Carolina Journal’s Kari Travis reports on the latest news from the UNC system:
The announcement comes just one week after UNC President Margaret Spellings submitted her resignation to the board. She will exit UNC March 1. Roper, upon appointment, will take the seat Jan. 1.
A long-time public servant, Roper, who is 70, joined UNC Chapel Hill in 1997 as dean of the School of Public Health. He became CEO of UNC Health Care and UNC’s medical school dean in 2004. He plans to leave both posts May 15.
Board member Marty Kotis declined to comment on the search and selection process for UNC’s interim president.
A North Carolinian from the private sector — someone with an advanced degree and successful business track record — would do well as UNC System’s next permanent president, Kotis said.
“If I were to wave a magic wand, someone like Jim Goodnight would be at the top of my candidate list,” he told CJ.
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