Carolina's Next Chancellor

Posted on April 20, 1994

From the University Report (published by the GAA 1970-94)

UNC Chancellor Paul Hardin announced in January his plan to step down as our campus’ chief executive officer upon the conclusion of the Bicentennial Campaign on June 30, 1995. Already Board of Trustees chairman John Harris ’69 has appointed a search committee of faculty, trustees and alumni. Among those serving on this important committee is Elizabeth S. “Pepper” Dowd ’53, immediate past president of the GAA.

As a part of the 1988 search that ended with the selection of Chancellor Hardin by UNC System President C.D. Spangler ’54, the trustees commissioned an outside review of our University. Their review suggested the new chancellor should possess the following dozen qualities:

1) The new chancellor must be an educational leader, someone who understands higher education in general and the unique role of major research institutions in particular.
2) The new chancellor must be a person of vision, someone who can appreciate the history and culture of Chapel Hill and has the abilities to translate that vision into reality.
3) The new chancellor must be a person with sufficient psychological strength to make difficult decisions and to press for institutional change.
4) The new chancellor must be an effective internal leader and external spokesman but also secure and facile enough to function in the larger system of higher education in North Carolina.
5) The new chancellor should have a record of strong interpersonal skills sufficient to pull together the institution’s various constituencies to work in its best interest.
6) The new chancellor must be articulate in one-on-one, group .discussions, and before large audiences.
7) The new chancellor must both understand and appreciate the political arena.
8) The new chancellor must be in good health and have the physical stamina to work long hours.
9) In addition to being an outstanding leader, the new chancellor also must be an effective manager.
10) The next chancellor must have a personal warmth and a sense of humor about life-about North Carolina, about higher education and even Chapel Hill.
11) The new chancellor must be enthusiastic about the pending fund campaign (Bicentennial Capital Campaign).
12) The new chancellor must meet the full test of a field of the very finest candidates’ possible.

What do you think are the most important qualities that Carolina’s new chancellor should possess? What should be our new chancellor’s top priorities? Your thoughts are important. Our new chancellor must build upon Carolina’s strong foundation if the value of your diploma is to appreciate.

Please use the space provided to share your suggestions with the GAA’s representative on the search committee. Remember, Carolina’s next chancellor will lead Carolina into the 21st century!

Yours at Carolina,

 

 

 

 

Douglas S. Dibbert ’70