A decade ago, at the news conference when then Director of Athletics John Swofford ’71 introduced Mack Brown to the Carolina media, most were struck by how naturally and effectively Brown communicated. These communications skills earned him some… read more
In establishing the Distinguished Professors Fund in 1985, the N.C. General Assembly again demonstrated the importance of the 204 years of partnership that has built The University of North Carolina. Today at Carolina, we have 220 of these endowed… read more
For many Carolina alumni, fall is our favorite season in Chapel Hill. For those of us fortunate to work on the Carolina campus, fall brings the opportunity to begin again. We start with an undefeated football team, students who are all brilliant… read more
With great pride and appreciation for the rich history of Carolina’s contributions to affirming the importance of alumni relations beyond our campus, I returned to Washington, D.C., in July to officially become chair of the Council for the… read more
So much has been written about the best coach, who also happens to be the winningest coach in the history of college basketball, that it is hard to comment on Coach Dean Smith without being repetitive. Beyond the graduation rate of his former… read more
After I tucked him into bed, Michael turned to me and said, “Daddy, what is it going to be like when I am living in a dorm at Carolina?” Startled by such a question from a 4-year-old, I said, “Michael, there are a lot of really great schools, and… read more
Carolina alumni who are students of UNC history know that in 1872 Cornelia Spencer urged Carolina alumni from across North Carolina to attend an important meeting in the Senate chamber in Raleigh to discuss the reopening of the University. Cornelia… read more
When Wyndham Robertson stepped down as vice president of the UNC System this year, her parting remarks to the Board of Governors underscored 10 years of observations about the University and the UNC System’s president, C.D. Spangler ’54. “The… read more
Thirty years ago, on a hot, humid September Saturday afternoon, with assistance from my mother, we carried my foot locker and other belongings up to the third floor of Alexander Dorm. This was the beginning of my fateful transition from Fayetteville… read more
At the memorial service for the five Carolina students who died in the tragic fire in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, my thoughts turned to an earlier time, to a classmate named James Lawrence Whitfield Jr. ’70 and his death 25 years ago —… read more