UNC System board re-elects the same slate of leaders as it deals with pandemic
The UNC System Board of Governors re-elected Randy Ramsey to serve as its chairman at a special meeting by video conference call Monday.
Wendy Murphy was also re-elected as vice chair of the board and Pearl Burris-Floyd was re-elected as secretary. There was no contest for any of the positions and each one is a two-year term.
Ramsey, of Beaufort, was appointed to the board by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2017. He has been serving as chair since October, after Harry Smith abruptly stepped down from the role.
Ramsey said he was humbled to be re-elected and thankful for the support of board members throughout the year as the system dealt with issues that nobody could’ve imagined.
As chair, Ramsey has been working closely with UNC System interim President Bill Roper and health officials in navigating the global coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the UNC System’s operations financially and academically. This spring, the board will vote on whether to freeze tuition and has already changed admissions standards under Ramsey’s leadership.
Ramsey has been at the helm through a number of controversial issues, most notably the lawsuit over the Silent Sam Confederate monument that stood on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. Ramsey signed off on the settlement deal that was brokered behind closed doors with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The lawsuit at the center of it was dismissed and the statue was returned to the UNC System, but Ramsey has made clear that Silent Sam is not the board’s top priority.
Ramsey stepped into the role amid controversy last fall as the board was beginning an internal investigation into former East Carolina University interim chancellor Dan Gerlach, who ultimately resigned from his post. Ramsey also later dealt with ECU trustees meddling in student elections.
The UNC System is actively working to fill multiple chancellor positions and hire a new system leader. Ramsey will continue to serve as the vice chair of the search committee charged with finding the next president of the UNC System. The search has been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, but the committee is reviewing candidates and meeting virtually.
The search committee will meet Wednesday via video conference call to review candidates. The next full Board of Governors meeting is scheduled for May 19-20 at the UNC System Office in Chapel Hill or via video conference.
