North Carolina Central University

North Carolina Central University Chancellor Search North Carolina Central University (NCCU), an esteemed constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System (UNC System), is actively searching for its next visionary chancellor to spearhead the storied institution’s journey into a continued future of growth, innovation and transformative change. With current chancellor, Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye, set to retire after nearly eight years of dedicated service to the NCCU community, effective at the end of the 2023–2024 academic year, the university is calling forth dynamic individuals with a passion for education, innovation and impactful leadership to guide NCCU to new heights.    ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY  NCCU is a nationally ranked historically Black university founded in 1910 in Durham, North Carolina, by pharmacist and religious educator Dr. James E. Shepard. The university serves as a hub for intellectual dialogue and discourse and is a source of academic distinction and game-changing innovation for North Carolina, the United States and the world. It is the oldest publicly-funded liberal arts college for African Americans in the nation. Located in the state’s Research Triangle region, NCCU has an enrollment of 7,964 students (Fall 2023) who hail from North Carolina, North America, Africa, Asia, South America and Europe.    The university offers nearly 140 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs – including a Ph.D. in integrated biosciences – with 146 area concentrations. NCCU’s signature graduate and undergraduate degrees are housed in seven colleges and schools: College of Arts and Social Sciences and Humanities; School of Business; School of Education; School of Graduate Studies; College of Health and Sciences; School of Law; and School of Library and Information Sciences.   The Role of Chancellor of North Carolina Central University  The Chancellor reports to the UNC System President, and executes the policies established by the UNC Board of Governors and the NCCU Board of Trustees. As the chief executive of the institution, the Chancellor is responsible for all institutional operations including administrative, academic, financial, student affairs, advancement, athletics, and alumni affairs, and ensuring that the institution’s affairs are carried out consistent with federal and state law and university policy. The Chancellor’s Cabinet and Executive Leadership Team includes ten direct reports: the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; the Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance; the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement; the Chief of Staff; the Chief Legal Counsel; the Director of Athletics; the Chief Information Officer; the Chief Human Resources Officer; and the Chief Brand Officer.   The Chancellor works closely with UNC Board of Governors, the President and UNC System leaders, and the NCCU Board of Trustees to ensure alignment between the institution’s strategic initiatives and the UNC System Strategic Plan: Higher Expectations. The Chancellor has overall responsibilities to strengthen existing institutional initiatives and foster new initiatives to ensure sustainability and forward progress toward successfully advancing the university’s mission. The Chancellor will serve as the public face of the University, providing leadership across campus and being an active and contributing leader within the community, across North Carolina, among other higher education institutions, and across the nation.      Desired Qualifications and Characteristics  The next chancellor of North Carolina Central University will demonstrate leadership capabilities and potential in the following areas:  • North Carolina Central University’s History and Mission. Someone with a deep passion for NCCU’s 113-year history and mission as a public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) – the nation’s first public liberal arts colleges for Black students – and its contributions to the region and our state, especially in the fields of law, the liberal arts, education, health sciences and nursing, and business.  • UNC System Governance and Strategic Goals. Someone who understands and appreciates the governance structure of the UNC System and is wholly committed to furthering the shared goals of the UNC System’s strategic plan, especially our focus on increasing student success.  • Integrity, Transparency, and Communication. Someone with unwavering integrity and commitment to transparency, and who communicates with and actively listens to diverse constituent groups to foster a shared vision and goals for the institution.  • Strategic Vision. Someone who demonstrates a clear vision for meeting the institution’s challenges and seizing its many opportunities, including increasing student enrollment, retention, and on-time graduation, strengthening the institution’s signature programs, and forging strong ties with employers and communities in the Durham and Triangle region.   • Change Management and Shared Accountability. Someone with the ability to manage and lead through change, demonstrating adaptability, resilience, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic environment and lead the institution through future transformations. Someone with a strong background in establishing clear performance metrics and holding institutional leaders accountable to ensure alignment with the university’s strategic objectives.   • Student Success and Wellbeing. Someone who is laser-focused on student success, continuing the institution’s exceptional record of driving upward social and economic mobility; who is committed to academic excellence; and who fully recognizes the critical links between access, affordability, student support, and success.  • Employee Success, Wellbeing, and Development. Someone who appreciates the essential contribution of faculty and staff and demonstrates the importance of employee engagement and wellbeing by fostering a positive work environment where faculty and staff at all levels feel valued, supported, and motivated. This includes developing future leaders within the institution to grow a sustainable pipeline of talent that aligns with the university’s long-term goals.  • Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Support. Someone who cultivates new and manages ongoing partnerships that advance the institution’s mission and goals, secures financial support from philanthropic, corporate, and government sources, embraces the institution’s role in the economic and community development of the region, and successfully advocates on the institution’s behalf with lawmakers and leaders at every level of government.  • Campus Safety. Someone who prioritizes the safety and security of the entire campus community and employs strong crisis management skills.  • Fiscal Stewardship. Someone with demonstrated ability to manage the institution’s resources in a transparent and fiscally prudent manner and to maintain a high-quality infrastructure to support the institution’s mission.  • Operational Excellence. Someone who applies sound management practices to sustain the operational health of the institution and understands the importance of leveraging technology to enhance student learning and streamline administrative processes.  • Free Expression and Academic Freedom. Someone who is wholly committed to the principles of free expression and academic freedom.    How to Apply  Individuals interested in being considered for the Chancellorship of North Carolina Central University are encouraged to apply. For priority consideration, candidates must submit a letter of interest and a Curriculum Vitae/Resume by March 29, 2024. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed via electronic mail to chancellorsearch@northcarolina.edu.  The position will remain open until filled. Candidates will be notified before their references are contacted.   The NCCU Search Advisory Committee will consider candidates and conduct interviews. The Committee will recommend at least three unranked candidates to the NCCU Board of Trustees who will then recommend at least three unranked finalists to the President. The President will nominate one candidate to the UNC Board of Governors for election.   Under North Carolina law, the names and personal information of candidates remain confidential throughout the search process and beyond.   Points of Contact:  • Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed via electronic mail to chancellorsearch@northcarolina.edu.  • For other questions, contact Lynn Duffy, Senior Associate Vice President for Leadership Development and Talent Acquisition, UNC System Office, at lsduffy@northcarolina.edu  For more information about the search process, please visit the North Carolina Central University Chancellor Search website at https://www.nccu.edu/chancellor-search.    EEO Statement  North Carolina Central University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. No one who applies or seeks employment will be denied admission to or employment at NCCU on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disabling condition, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or sexual orientation and sexual identity.