New faces, new programs at Carolina

This semester we welcomed Lee Roberts to campus as interim chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill, following the departure of Kevin Guskiewicz to take over the helm of Michigan State University.  I am looking forward to working with Lee, a finance executive with deep ties to the state, who has thrown himself into learning everything there is about this historic campus and the wonderfully committed people who make it special. In his first few months at Carolina, he has attended numerous lectures, talks, concerts and other events sponsored by College units, and he is as impressed with our talented students, staff and faculty as I am.

We also welcomed the inaugural director and dean of the College’s new School of Civic Life and Leadership last month. Jed Atkins comes to Carolina from Duke University, and he joins SCiLL just as it prepares to launch a new minor in civic life and leadership this fall.

The SCiLL minor isn’t the only academic program the College has announced this semester. This fall we will be offering a new B.S. in applied sciences and a B.A. in data science. What these new degrees and the minor have in common is that they were developed to respond to students’ needs and interests. At Carolina, we are never content with the status quo; we are always raising the bar in defining excellence. After all, we are preparing today’s students to be the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim White