Kevin Howell becomes NC State University’s first Black chancellor
In a powerful full-circle moment nearly 40 years in the making, Kevin Howell has been named the first Black chancellor of North Carolina State University. He is also the first Black student to rise from student body president to the university’s top leadership role. The UNC System Board of Governors voted unanimously to confirm his appointment.
“It’s good to be home at NC State,” Howell said, receiving a standing ovation at the Talley Student Union following the announcement. He officially assumed office on May 5 as the 15th chancellor, marking a landmark occasion for public higher education across North Carolina.
UNC System President Peter Hans praised Howell as the embodiment of the university’s mission. “Kevin is the personification of what makes NC State an extraordinary institution,” he said. “A place where a young man from Cleveland County could break barriers, find purpose, and commit his life to the public good.”
A political science alumnus of NC State and a law graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Howell’s career has spanned government, education, and policy. He served as a legislative liaison under Governors Jim Hunt and Mike Easley, and more recently as Chief External Affairs Officer for UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine.
Outgoing Chancellor Randy Woodson commended his strategic leadership, noting Howell’s success in building strong government relationships and driving economic development.
That economic impact was nationally recognized in 2019, when NC State earned the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ highest award for economic engagement under Howell’s guidance, an achievement he likened to “winning a national championship.”
His return to NC State comes at a critical juncture. As universities grapple with shifting political winds, budget cuts, and debates over diversity and academic freedom, Howell is stepping in with a steady hand and a bold vision. “I pledge to be the right person, at the right time, for this university for many, many years to come,” he said.
Hans echoed that resolve. “The Wolfpack is ready to run in this new and formidable age, and I believe Kevin Howell is ready to lead them,” he said. “There can be no complacency.”
Howell’s journey from a determined young student to the leader of the university he once called home is a beautiful story of purpose. As Hans put it, “NC State needs a leader who understands that our greatest innovation is fusing practical wisdom with academic excellence in service to the public. Kevin Howell hasn’t just believed in that vision; he’s lived it.”
Written by Kweku Sampson
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