The search for Carolina’s next executive vice chancellor and provost is moving forward in conjunction with the search for a new chancellor.
Since January when Chancellor Holden Thorp appointed a reconstituted 21-member search committee led by Kristen Swanson, dean of the School of Nursing and Alumni Distinguished Professor, the committee has met several times. Committee members have crafted a leadership statement describing the scope of the position and are advertising in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
The executive vice chancellor and provost holds the University’s top academic leadership post. The provost is responsible for leading Carolina’s academic mission, overseeing academic administration and chairing the budget committee, which has ultimate responsibility for the University’s resource allocation.
“The provost will play a crucial role in leading the nation’s first public university at a pivotal moment in its history and in the history of American higher education,” Swanson said.
Bruce W. Carney has served as provost since 2009, including one year in the post on an interim basis. A longtime faculty member and administrator, Carney last summer announced his plans to return to the faculty at the end of June.
“We have begun to recruit for the provost position but with an understanding that potential candidates will probably want to know who the chancellor is before they engage too deeply in the process,” Swanson said.
Thorp will step down as Carolina’s 10th chancellor on June 30. Last month he announced that he will become provost at Washington University in St. Louis when he leaves Chapel Hill. The search for Thorp’s successor began last September shortly after Thorp announced his decision to step down. He has served as chancellor since 2008.
The provost search committee plans to begin reviewing applications on March 20. Swanson encouraged people to suggest potential candidates by sending an email to the search consultants at UNCProvost@wittkieffer.com.
More information about the search.
Published March 12, 2013.