James Martin II elected chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University

Civil engineer and former engineering dean at the University of Pittsburgh will lead nation's largest HBCU

ANDY WALLACE 
Director of Media Relations Photo UNC


RALEIGH, N.C. – James Martin II, an accomplished civil engineer who has led engineering and STEM initiatives at three large public research universities, was elected chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University today by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

UNC System President Peter Hans recommended Martin, vice chancellor of STEM Innovation and Research at the University of Pittsburgh, following a national search that drew a highly competitive field, including three finalists endorsed by the North Carolina A&T Board of Trustees.

Martin's appointment will begin on Aug. 15. He succeeds Harold Martin Sr., who will retire after 15 years as chancellor.

James Martin, who served four years as the U.S. Steel Dean of Engineering in Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering, has decades of experience as an engineering professor, institute director, dean and leader of science initiatives at major public universities, including Clemson University and Virginia Tech.

During his career, he has promoted academic innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and improved organizational culture. He will now lead the nation's largest historically Black university on a trajectory to become a top-tier research institution, termed "Research 1" by the Carnegie Classification that categorizes universities by their levels of research activity.

"James Martin is the right leader to engineer North Carolina A&T's continuing rise," Hans said. "He believes in what he calls 'impatient optimism,' a productive sense of possibility in what can be achieved when people think across disciplines, feel a sense of shared purpose, and commit to an ambitious vision. It's exactly the kind of mindset that will help affirm the university's status as one of the nation's best research institutions and engines of social mobility."

"North Carolina A&T is a recognized national leader in harnessing technology and access to learning to unlock human potential," Martin said. "That's one of many reasons why it's so exciting to have been chosen to lead the university at a moment when America is in particular need of the very things that North Carolina A&T does best. Our students, faculty, staff and alumni are on an incredible ascent, having accomplished so much in recent years. I look forward to joining them on that journey and ensuring that we continue to build on A&T's exceptional momentum as we set ambitious new sights for the months and years ahead."

As dean at Pittsburgh, he oversaw an engineering program with 2,900 undergraduates, 850 graduate students and 200 faculty. There he raised research dollars by 50 percent, built strategic partnerships with industry and government, and increased diversity, enrollment and graduation rates. Previously, he chaired the civil engineering department at Clemson University and was the founding executive director of Clemson's Risk Engineering and Systems Analytics Institute (RESA).

A scholar in disaster risk engineering and earthquake science, he has conducted research around the world in earthquake zones, leading to stronger building codes in the United States. He has provided international engineering consulting for nearly 100 firms and government agencies.

He began his career as a faculty member in civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, where he later led an engineering fellowship program for underrepresented students and founded the university's Disaster Risk Management Institute. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering at The Citadel and a master's and doctorate in civil engineering from Virginia Tech. He was born in Union, South Carolina to a family with deep roots across the Carolinas.

His numerous national, state and university awards for research, teaching, scholarship and service include the American Society of Civil Engineer's Norman Medal, the highest honor for published work in his field. He was also inducted into the Virginia Tech Department of Civil Engineering's Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2015.

"Dr. Martin is an exceptional leader with a strong vision for where we can take our university in the coming years," said A&T Board of Trustees Chair Kimberly Bullock Gatling. "North Carolina A&T has enjoyed enormous success in recent years, and I have no doubt that Dr. Martin will continue the university's strong ascent and increase our national presence as a doctoral, research land-grant HBCU."

"We were fortunate in this national search to draw a very competitive field of applicants and nominees from across the country. It was gratifying to see a certain standard of quality in leadership throughout the field," said Search Advisory Committee Chair Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, former chair of the A&T Board of Trustees. "From the beginning, Dr. Martin emerged as a leading candidate in his background, preparation and the vision he articulated for A&T. He will be an outstanding leader for our university."

"North Carolina A&T has been extremely fortunate to have Dr. Harold Martin as chancellor for these last 15 years, and now the university has another fantastic leader in Dr. James Martin," said UNC Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey. "He comes to A&T with decades of leadership experience and a track record of building and innovating. I join the Aggie community in congratulating him on his important new role."
   

About the UNC System

The University of North Carolina System enrolls 242,500 students at 17 institutions, including the state's 16 public universities and the nation's first public residential high school for academically gifted students. The UNC System is among the strongest and most diverse higher education systems in the country, with more than $1.9 billion in research expenditures and campuses that serve every region of North Carolina. Affiliate organizations include PBS North Carolina, with 12 public television stations across the state, and UNC Health, with 19 hospital campuses and an extensive healthcare network.
   
 

Bonita J. Brown elected chancellor of Winston-Salem State University

Higher education leader, former interim president at Northern Kentucky University,

will return to her WSSU roots

 Photo UNC

RALEIGH, N.C. – Bonita J. Brown, a seasoned university leader with experience in national student access initiatives, was elected chancellor of Winston-Salem State University today by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

 

UNC System President Peter Hans recommended Brown, who recently served as interim president of Northern Kentucky University, following a national search that included nearly 50 candidates and three finalists endorsed by the WSSU Board of Trustees.

 

Brown, an attorney, has held senior leadership positions across public higher education, including chief of staff, chief strategy officer, general counsel and interim president. She is vice president and chief strategy officer at NKU, a regional institution in Highland Heights, KY that serves 15,000 students. In the past five years, she has worked to boost retention and on-time graduation of students, and managed the university's budget challenges as interim president from January through October last year.

 

Previously, she served in high-level roles at two national student access and success organizations – as vice president for network engagement at Achieving the Dream, Inc., a Silver Spring, MD-based nonprofit focused on community colleges, and as director of higher education practice at The Education Trust, a Washington-based nonprofit that works to close opportunity gaps for students of color and students from low-income families.

 

Brown's appointment as chancellor at WSSU will begin July 1. She succeeds Interim Chancellor Anthony Graham and former Chancellor Elwood Robinson, who retired last year.

 

It will be a homecoming for Brown, who was born in Winston-Salem to parents who are WSSU alumni. She previously was assistant university attorney at WSSU from 2004 to 2006. She also served in leadership positions at other UNC System institutions, including University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was vice chancellor and chief of staff from 2010 to 2015, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she was general counsel in 2006.

 

She was chief of staff at the University of North Texas for four years. Early in her career, she served as assistant to the president and attorney at two private HBCUs in North Carolina – Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte and Livingstone College in Salisbury.

 

She earned her undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University and attended the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard University.

 

"It is a true honor and a privilege to return home to lead this great institution. WSSU stands out as a leader in social mobility, which I have personally benefited from through my parents, and I want to provide that same opportunity to others in this region. I look forward to working with the amazing WSSU faculty, staff, students and alumni as we build upon the historical strengths of this university that will launch us into the future. I have been preparing for this moment my entire career and I am overjoyed to serve this great institution," said WSSU Chancellor-elect Bonita Brown.

 

Hans said Brown will bring a devotion to WSSU with sharp management skills and insights from her experience at universities in three states.

 

"Winston-Salem State is a powerhouse of opportunity and economic mobility, and I'm thrilled we have a leader who can build on those strengths," Hans said. "It's an honor to welcome Bonita Brown back to the Triad and to a campus that played such a huge role in her life. Her energetic leadership and deep experience with strategy and policy are exactly what WSSU needs for this moment of great challenge and great promise in higher education."

 

"After a thorough evaluation of our candidate pool's qualifications, experience, and fit with the university culture, we are confident in President Hans' decision. Chancellor-elect Brown possesses a unique combination of skills—including strong leadership abilities and a proven track record of success in similar roles," said Kathleen Kelly, chair of the WSSU Board of Trustees and the chancellor search advisory committee. "Her past achievements demonstrate her ability to drive results. Additionally, her passion for higher education and commitment to continuous learning align perfectly with WSSU's values and long-term goals. With Bonita Brown on board, we are excited about the possibilities for future growth and achievement."

 

Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey said Brown has proven throughout her career that she puts students first.

 

"She is the kind of leader who will empower students to succeed at Winston-Salem State," Ramsey said. "I am delighted she is coming home to North Carolina to serve this important institution."

 
 

Dr. Karrie Dixon elected chancellor of North Carolina Central University

Experienced chancellor led Elizabeth City State University through period of growth

 

RALEIGH, N.C. – Dr. Karrie Dixon, who has led Elizabeth City State University to a new era of expansion and success, was elected chancellor of North Carolina Central University today by the UNC Board of Governors.

 

She was recommended by UNC System President Peter Hans following a national search that drew more than 50 candidates, resulting in three finalists endorsed by the NCCU Board of Trustees. She succeeds Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye, who is retiring June 30 after eight years leading the university.

 

Dixon has served as chancellor of Elizabeth City State since 2018, bringing forth a renaissance to a campus that previously experienced enrollment declines and financial pressures. During her tenure as chancellor, Dixon grew enrollment by nearly 70%, raised $24 million in private gifts and built partnerships that led to nearly $300 million in state and federal funding for facilities, infrastructure and academic programs. In two years' time, employee morale moved from lowest in the UNC System to the highest.

 

"Karrie Dixon has been a widely admired leader in our university System for more than two decades," Hans said. "She's known for building great teams and taking on big challenges with honesty and optimism. I'm excited for NC Central and grateful to Chancellor Dixon for her commitment to this state."

 

"Being a part of this incredible community of scholars, innovators and leaders on the sloping hills and verdant green is a dream come true," said NCCU Chancellor-elect Dixon. "NCCU embodies grit, innovation, leadership, purpose and legacy, and I am committed to building on our rich traditions and ensuring that our students, faculty, staff and alumni have the tools and opportunities necessary to succeed. I can't wait to engage with all the possibilities that Durham has to offer."

 

"We are thrilled to have a dynamic new chancellor in Dr. Karrie Dixon to accelerate the growth of our great institution so our students and graduates can fully compete in a global economy," said NCCU Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Holloway. "This is about providing the best education we can for our students to achieve their purpose and take flight."

 

Dr. James H. Johnson Jr., faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, served as chair of the NCCU chancellor search advisory committee. "I am very excited because I firmly believe that Chancellor-elect Karrie Dixon possesses all the desired characteristics and traits that NCCU constituents who participated in our rigorous search process said they hoped for in the next chancellor," Johnson said. "She is a North Carolina native; a seasoned higher education administrator with a track record of student-centered success in the UNC System; committed to active and purposeful engagement with the full range of university constituencies; and has the leadership presence and soft skills acumen to attract the support that NCCU needs to thrive. I am confident in President Hans' decision and in the future of my alma mater."

 

Dixon has worked within the UNC System for 23 years, moving up the ranks in academic positions at the System Office, including as vice president for academic and student affairs, senior associate vice president for academic and student affairs and assistant vice president for academic and student affairs. Previously she was assistant vice provost at NC State University, and before that served as a program assessment consultant in NC State's Department of Chemical Engineering. She was an adjunct assistant professor at NC State's College of Education, and taught communication at NC State and University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

 

She served a one-year American Council on Education Fellowship at Wake Forest University in 2016-17.

 

She has been a longtime ally of the UNC Association of Student Governments, and recently received the student organization's top award, the William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

A first-generation college graduate, Dixon holds a bachelor's degree in communication from NC State University, a master's degree in speech communication from UNC Greensboro, and a Doctor of Education degree in higher education administration from NC State University.

 

"This is a great day for North Carolina Central University," said UNC Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey. "Karrie Dixon has made enormous contributions to eastern North Carolina during her years of service to Elizabeth City State University and will now be a tremendous leader for another of our state's important public HBCUs. I congratulate her and look forward to seeing what this new chapter holds."
 

interim chancellor appointed for Elizabeth City State University

Experienced educator named to succeed Chancellor Karrie Dixon

 

RALEIGH, N.C. – University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans has appointed longtime educator Dr. Catherine Edmonds as interim chancellor at Elizabeth City State University.

 

She will succeed Chancellor Karrie Dixon, who has led ECSU since 2018 and was elected this week the next chancellor of North Carolina Central University.

 

Edmonds, who has served as chief of staff at NCCU since 2022, will become interim chancellor on July 1. She will join a talented leadership team at ECSU, including Provost Farah Ward and Chief of Staff Alyn Goodson.

 

Edmonds is a career educator with deep roots in northeastern North Carolina, having served as superintendent of Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools from 2019 to 2021, and superintendent of the Bertie County Schools from 2018 to 2019.

 

She has worked at the state level to improve public schools and student success across North Carolina.

 

She was deputy state superintendent in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in 2021-22, and previously served the department for seven years as a district transformation coach and district portfolio manager. She was state director of the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program and director of educational leadership and development in the UNC System from 2016 to 2018. She began her career as a high school teacher and later as a principal in the Granville County Schools.

 

"Dr. Edmonds has spent her entire career building better schools for students, and she is very well suited to step into the role of interim chancellor at Elizabeth City State," Hans said. "She has strong ties in northeastern North Carolina communities, where she has been deeply involved in the public schools. She has the talent and skill to continue ECSU's strong momentum."

 

Edmonds, a first-generation college graduate, is a proud product of HBCUs in the UNC System. She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She began her graduate work at North Carolina Central University and earned a master's degree in educational leadership and a Doctor of Education degree in educational administration, both at NC State University.

 

Her son, a Coast Guard veteran, is a student at Elizabeth City State, majoring in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on emergency management.

 

A search for the next chancellor of Elizabeth City State University will begin later this year.

 

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About the UNC System

The University of North Carolina System enrolls 242,500 students at 17 institutions, including the state's 16 public universities and the nation's first public residential high school for academically gifted students. The UNC System is among the strongest and most diverse higher education systems in the country, with more than $1.9 billion in research expenditures and campuses that serve every region of North Carolina. Affiliate organizations include PBS North Carolina, with 12 public television stations across the state, and UNC Health, with 19 hospital campuses and an extensive healthcare network.

 


ANDY WALLACE
Director of Media Relations