EDUCATION.

RANDY WOODSON

chancellor | N.C. State University Raleigh

It ain't bragging if you can do it, and N.C. State University Chancellor Randy Woodson has demonstrated he can lead a big university.

Since moving from Purdue University in 2010, the plant molecular biologist has spearheaded N.C. State's growth to 37,000 students, raised $2.1 billion in scholarships, boosted its $2 billion endowment, and helped gain national recognition in engineering, agricultural and manufacturing research.

The university's board rewarded him with the nation's highest compensation among the U.S. doctoral-granting public universities in 2021. His total pay of $2.3 million included a $1.7 million bonus tied to his successes. (Many private college presidents, including some in North Carolina, receive more annual compensation than Woodson.)

Notably, he has pledged about $1.5 million to support scholarships and other worthy causes at the state's largest university, which has a $1.6 billion annual budget.

Some of those students, Woodson noted, are in food crisis, so part of his donation will help fill dorm refrigerators.

Favorite family tradition: Sunday night dinner with the kids and grandkids.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: Ashe County on the New River What do you listen to on your commute: Back to Bluegrass

Major inspiration: My father. His work ethic and compassion for others continues to set a high bar for me.

Career highlight: Serving the people of North Carolina as chancellor of N.C. State University.

Favorite hobby after work: Garden or play guitar, depending on the weather.

Best advice to industry newcomer: Listen and learn: listen to your stakeholders and learn the culture of the organization.

Key industry change in next five years: Move to more flexible educational outcomes. The B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. will continue, but increasingly people are looking for industry-specific certificates.

DARRELL ALLISON

chancellor | Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

The Kannapolis native took his post at the historically Black university in March 2021, after serving on the UNC Board of Governors and leading a K-12 school-choice nonprofit in Raleigh. The graduate of N.C. Central University and UNC Chapel Hill School of Law champions community engagement, student retention and increased scholarship opportunities.

DAVID BOLIEK

chair | UNC Chapel Hill board of trustees

Chapel Hill

Boliek, elected in 2019, is a partner at a Fayetteville law firm focused on litigation and health care issues. He previously worked in journalism, public relations, government contracting and as a Cumberland County prosecutor. He has a bachelor's degree from UNC Chapel Hill and law and MBA degrees from Campbell University.

CONNIE BOOK

president | Elon University

Elon

Book became Elon's first female president in 2018 after serving as provost of The Citadel. She previously spent 16 years at Elon as a professor and provost. She has degrees from Louisiana State and Northwestern State universities and a Ph.D. in mass communications from the University of Georgia.

KELLI BROWN

chancellor | Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

The Southern Illinois University graduate came to Western Carolina in 2019 after serving as provost at Georgia College & State University. Her initiatives include promoting the state's only public engineering college west of Interstate 77. Campus enrollment declined marginally to about 11,640 students in the fall of 2022.

Favorite family tradition: Getting the horses ready on a Thursday or Friday night and heading out for a weekend at a quarter horse show. We had a tradition of attending horse shows almost every weekend.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: I love all the beautiful creeks and waterfalls in western N.C. You can be driving along and suddenly tucked away will be a beautiful waterfall and when you roll down your window, you can hear the sounds it makes. Nothing better than this!

What do you listen to on your commute: Local Blue Ridge NPR and anything country western, from Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn to Brooks & Dunn and Garth Brooks.

Major inspiration: My mom taught me so much despite the fact she was not college educated. I learned from her that hard work pays off, to never give up on your dream, to follow your passion, and to always do the right thing no matter how hard it may seem at the time. She was beautiful, graceful, and cared for others. To this day she inspires me to follow my dream, be true to myself and to be mindful of my everyday actions.

Career highlight: When Western Carolina University students, faculty, staff, retired employees, alumni and community members rallied to stand up for a COVID vaccine center in rural western North Carolina that served more than 17,000 people at the height of the pandemic. I could not have been prouder and humbled by the actions of WCU during a time of uncertainty, yet their actions revealed the humanity in us all.

Favorite hobby...