Chief James comes to Carolina following his impending retirement from the police chief position at the Greensboro Police Department, where his successes included helping secure mental health resources for his team and the community, participating in community conversations regarding policing and implementing a program to help teenagers gain employment.
Tomorrow, we celebrate the naming of two buildings in honor of groundbreaking heroes in Carolina’s history: Hortense McClinton, the first African American faculty member, and Henry Owl, the first American Indian and the first person of color to enroll at our University.
Valerie Howard is a nationally recognized academic innovator and an accomplished higher education leader who will bring a wealth of experience to Carolina.
Janet Guthmiller, a highly accomplished leader, returns to Carolina’s dental school after eight years in Nebraska and begins her new role back here at Carolina on Oct. 15. She will also hold the Claude A. Adams Distinguished Professorship.
Members of the Class of 2022 have taken challenging classes, deepened friendships, completed research projects, finished internships, studied abroad and so much more.
"You have proven just how capable you are of overcoming adversity and seizing the opportunities that uncertainty presents. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish."
"The ideal of a public university — a place at once deeply enmeshed in the world and set apart from it — has always been fragile. The success of this place was never a foregone conclusion, and it still isn’t. But every generation has proven that this fragile ideal is a powerful call to action. It took the hard work and dedication of thousands of Tar Heels since our founding."
"You are here today because someone believed in you and in the possibility for you to do great things. That belief hasn’t changed. We all still believe in you. If there’s one thing you hear today, I want you to hear this: we, your family your faculty, the administration, and I – we all imagine incredible, out of this world, unbelievable possibilities for you."
"If there is anything you have learned here at Carolina, I hope it’s that there is still so much that you don’t yet know. Keep learning and growing. Keep asking questions, especially of the people who have different experiences, who are unique, who see the world differently than you do."
"This university is founded on the idea that things can get better. We must always be part of that change."
"Today, as you graduate and leave a place you call home, I urge you to be heroes. To not just see and hear about the needs of our world, but to respond. To see the problems of others and make them your own."
"Today, I am humbled and honored to become Carolina’s 12th chancellor. I’m prepared to lead us forward with purpose, humility and vision."
"There are many principles that could guide our work as the leading global public research university. But I believe Hooker’s vision is our foundation. We are here today to emphasize that one reason: Carolina is here to serve North Carolina."
"This is our hope for you at Carolina: that you would learn to navigate the stars."
"Here at Carolina, we embrace our rich traditions while focusing on innovation and our future as the leading global public research university. You epitomize that future, and we are excited to celebrate your accomplishments today."