The Lived Experiences of Contemporary Nontraditional Chancellors in the University of North Carolina System

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Challenges of Academic Leaders Across Higher Education

Abstract

Given contemporary fiscal and political crises within public higher education, the role of university president is a hard one to fill. There is a small, 2%, increase in the number of nontraditional candidates selected to fill that role. In 2015-2016, there were nine chancellor vacancies in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System, one-third of which were filled by nontraditional candidates. While the selection of a nontraditional candidate to serve as chancellor or president is not new, the concentration of the selection of these individuals within a single system is of import. As such, the purpose of this study is to query the motivations of the three nontraditional chancellors selected and to explore their lived experiences serving in this role.

Authors

• Gordon Burnette, East Carolina University

• Crystal Renee Chambers, East Carolina University