North Carolina's largest public university NC State names new chancellor
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has chosen the next person to lead the state's largest public university by enrollment after its longtime chancellor is set to retire soon.
Kevin Howell was named the next chancellor of North Carolina State University — and the first Black person to lead the institution in its 138-year history — at the public university governing board's Tuesday meeting. He will succeed Randy Woodson, who has served in the role since 2010 and is one of the university system's longest-serving chancellors.
Howell is the chief external affairs officer for the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health, according to the school's website. He also previously served in various leadership roles at NC State, including as vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development. As an NC State undergraduate student, Howell was student body president.
"I know from experience that effective diplomacy in contentious times requires patience, humility and a genuine respect for the voices and opinions of others," UNC System President Peter Hans said during the meeting. 'These are all qualities that Kevin Howell possesses in abundance.'
Howell will begin in his new role May 5, according to an NC State news release. His salary as chancellor will be $600,000.
Woodson announced his retirement during the university's trustees meeting last July as his contract was slated to end this summer. Woodson, 67, told reporters then that it was 'just a good time' to step away from the chancellorship.
Under Woodson's leadership, the university increased its graduation and retention rates, as well as research funding. Enrollment also expanded, growing to more than 38,000 students as of Fall 2024.
'I feel good about leaving the institution better than I found it, but I also feel good that the next leader has plenty to do at NC State,' Woodson said after announcing his retirement in July.
There will be a lot on Howell's plate when he assumes his position this summer, including navigating a nationally turbulent time for higher education as institutions prepare for potential massive losses of funding from the National Institutes of Health. NC State is an R1 research institution — the highest tier for research universities under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education — and received more than $48 million from the NIH last fiscal year.
NC State also paused most of its hiring activities — including for faculty — in February, partially due to uncertainty on federal funding, according to a memo from executive vice chancellor Warwick Arden. The memo did not specify when the hiring freeze would end.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
20 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Thailand's king approves new Cabinet for coalition government shaken by leaked phone call
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's king approved the appointments of new Cabinet members Tuesday in the coalition government shaken by a major party's departure over the prime minister's leaked phone call with Cambodia's former leader. The reshuffle came during speculation over whether the Constitutional Court will take a petition accusing Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of a serious breach of ethics over the leaked call. The court could suspend her from office pending the investigation. Paetongtarn said she would accept and follow the process although she didn't want to see her work interrupted. 'If you ask me whether I'm worried, I am,' she told reporters Monday. The endorsement of her new Cabinet by King Maha Vajiralongkorn was published in the government gazette. The reshuffle replaced former Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, which had held several Cabinet positions but left the coalition over the leaked call. Anutin was replaced by Phumtham Wechayachai, who had been defense minister for the past year and also will lead the Interior Ministry. The Defense Ministry post was left blank, with the deputy minister becoming the acting minister instead. Paetongtarn took the position of culture minister. She said she wanted to promote Thai culture on a global scale. Before she became prime minister, Paetongtarn had promoted Thailand's 'soft power,' highlighting its food, culture and sports. The Constitutional Court last year removed her predecessor over a breach of ethics. Thailand's courts, especially the Constitutional Court, are viewed as a bulwark of the royalist establishment, which has used them and nominally independent agencies such as the Election Commission to cripple or sink political opponents. Paetongtarn also faces investigations over an alleged breach of ethics by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, whose decision could also lead to her removal. Outrage over the call mostly revolved around Paetongtarn's comments toward an outspoken regional army commander and her perceived attempts to appease Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen to ease tensions at the border. Thousands of conservative, nationalist-leaning protesters rallied in central Bangkok on Saturday to demand Paetongtarn's resignation.
Associated Press
21 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Greenland has a message for the rest of the world: Come visit
NUUK, Greenland (AP) — Greenland has a message for the rest of the world: We're waiting for you. 'Come visit Greenland,' said Nukartaa Andreassen, who works for a water taxi company in the capital city, Nuuk. 'Learn about it, learn about us. We love to have you. We love to tell our stories and our culture.' The mineral-rich Arctic island is open for tourism. Whale-watching tours, excursions to the iconic puffin island and guided charters through remote settlements are just the beginning of what Greenland has to offer visitors. Locals want to show what makes the island unique beyond a recent diplomatic dustup with U.S. President Donald Trump. 'Our goal and mission is to present and be the ambassadors of Greenland,' said Casper Frank Møller, the chief executive of Nuuk-based tour guide company Raw Arctic, 'and to show what beauty you can experience while you're here.' The tourism industry is expected to see a boom this year following the launch of a new route between Nuuk and Newark, New Jersey. The inaugural flight June 14 was the first direct travel from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline. Traveling to Greenland Before the direct flight, air passengers departing from the U.S. needed a layover in Iceland or Denmark to reach Greenland. The change benefited travelers like Doug Jenzen, an American tourist who was on the United Airlines plane from New Jersey. 'I came with the purpose of exploring some of the natural sites around the world's largest island, hoping to support things like ecotourism and sustainable travel while supporting the local economy,' Jenzen said. Cruise ships can already dock on the island but they bring less money to businesses catering to tourists because passengers sleep and usually eat on board. Some 150,000 tourists visited Greenland in 2024, according to Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's business minister. 'We really want to grow the tourism sector. It's a very good fit for many in Greenland,' Nathanielsen added. 'Tourism is about good vibes. It's about sharing culture, sharing history. It's about storytelling. And as Inuit, that's very much part of our heritage.' The Trump effectGreenland gained worldwide attention when Trump earlier this year announced he wanted to take control of the semiautonomous Danish territory, through a purchase or possibly by force. Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland have said the island is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. gathering intelligence there. Despite the diplomatic tension, Frank Møller of Raw Arctic sees an upside. 'It has kind of put Greenland on the world map. And it's definitely a situation that Raw Arctic has used to our advantage,' he said. Still, beefing up the tourism industry should happen at a pace that prioritizes the voices and comfort levels of the roughly 56,000 people on the island, he added. Andreassen, of Nuuk Water Taxi, agreed. 'It's very important for me to tell my own story. Because I always feel like when I meet new people, I always introduce a whole Greenland,' she said. 'It's important for me to show our own culture, our own nature. Not by television, not by other people from other countries.' 'Unforgettable moment'In June, Pinar Saatci, a 59-year-old Turkish tourist, saw several whales breach the ocean surface during a boat tour. 'It's very exciting to be here, at the other part of the world, so far away from home,' she said. 'It's a very exciting and unforgettable moment.' Risskov Rejser has visited Greenland several times through her travel company for Danish travelers. But she is worried about the impact of a tourist invasion. 'For me, the worst thing would be if mass tourism starts and people come here, and sort of look upon the Greenland people as if they were a living museum,' she said. 'It has to be done in a respectful way and you have to consider what the consequences are.' ___ Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report.
Hamilton Spectator
39 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Death toll rises to 36 after explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in southern India
HYDERABAD, India (AP) — The death toll from Monday's massive explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in India's southern state of Telangana has risen to at least 36 while about three dozen were left injured, authorities said Tuesday. The fire department recovered the charred bodies of 34 workers from the accident site in an industrial area about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad, the state's fire services director G.V. Narayana Rao told The Associated Press. Two other workers succumbed to burns and were pronounced dead in hospital, Rao said, adding that debris of the gutted pharmaceutical unit of Sigachi Industries was still being removed to find out if any more workers were trapped. Nearly three dozen injured workers were admitted to hospitals, he said. 'The whole structure of the factory has collapsed. Fire has been doused, and we hope to finish removing the debris in the next few hours,' Rao said. The explosion and subsequent fire was reported on Monday in the factory's spray dryer unit, which is used to process raw material into fine powder for making drugs, Rao said. The state's Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said there were 108 workers inside the factory at the time of the explosion. 'As bodies were badly burnt and mutilated, a special medical team has been deployed to conduct DNA tests', said Narasimha, adding the state government has set up a panel to investigate the cause of the incident. Witnesses said they heard the explosion from a couple of kilometers away from the site. India is home to some of the world's top pharmaceutical companies, playing a pivotal role in the global supply of generic medicines and vaccines. The country's robust manufacturing and cost-effective production have made it a hub for pharma giants. Industrial accidents, particularly involving chemical reactors, aren't uncommon in such factories, underlining the need for authorities to implement stringent safety protocols and regulatory oversight in a sector critical to public health. Sigachi Industries Limited is an Indian company dealing with active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and vitamin-mineral blends, according to the company's website. It has five manufacturing facilities across India and subsidiaries in the U.S and the United Arab Emirates. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
