CHAPEL HILL (November 29, 2023) – UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz is considering an offer to leave Chapel Hill to become president of Michigan State University.1
In a striking show of support from University faculty, though, Faculty Chair Beth Moracco shared the following letter with Guskiewicz, UNC-CH’s Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors this week asking Guskiewicz to stay in Chapel Hill.
November 27, 2023
Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz
South Building, Suite 103
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dear Kevin,
Over the past week, many faculty members have contacted me to express their support for you as our chancellor. While the individual words have varied, the themes of these conversations have been unanimous. Your faculty colleagues appreciate your steadfast commitment to our beloved university and your calm and steady leadership throughout the extraordinary challenges our campus community has faced since 2019. Your love for Carolina and devotion to our passionately public mission inspires us all. And, while we respect your decision-making process and the many factors to be weighed, I join a multitude of faculty voices in saying that I fervently hope that you will remain at Carolina.
Your colleagues recognize and appreciate the exceptional skill, integrity, and thoughtfulness you bring to your role as our chancellor. You have diligently engaged with the entire campus community through good times and bad, consistently seeking out the perspectives of faculty, staff, and students and keeping the lines of communication open. I have seen firsthand how your first instinct is to reach out and personally connect with the people most affected by events, as you did tirelessly in the aftermath of August 28.
As chair of the faculty and a longtime member of the Faculty Council, I have witnessed the benefits of your engagement with faculty governance at UNC. Your advocacy and support are essential to the shared governance that we all seek to uphold.
In short, the faculty have been communicating that you are a cherished professor, colleague, and leader. Throughout your tenure as chancellor, you have served as a constant reminder of our mission and purpose to protect and nourish learning, exploration, deliberation, and respect for everyone in our campus community. Your departure would be a devastating loss.
Please know that you have my utmost appreciation, respect, and unwavering support.
Sincerely,
K. Elizabeth Moracco, PhD
Chair of the Faculty
Associate Professor of Health Behavior
1 https://www.higheredworks.org/2023/11/little-wonder-why-guskiewicz-might-leave/.
Leo Horey says
Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you for writing this letter. Kevin is a smart, thoughtful balanced, objective, receptive and passionate Tar Heel who bleeds “Carolina Blue.” He always puts the best interests of the University first and does so in a constructive manner. He cares deeply about others, strives to do what is right – ALWAYS and shares his experience, knowledge and wisdom with others to ensure the best possible outcomes. Kevin personifies the “Carolina Way” that distinguishes the University from other academic institutions – it is the “secret sauce” that is difficult, if not impossible, to replicate.
I hope that your message reaches Kevin and influences his decision to stay at Chapel Hill. The University is fortunate to have his leadership, and he has earned our support
Sincerely,
Leo Horey
Bill Moore says
Amen!!!
John Billing says
From the time we hired Kevin as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science he has exhibited the highest standards of excellence consistent with all that is Carolina. He is truly a”priceless gem.” It is my sincere hope that we can do everything possible to retain Kevin as Chancellor and Professor..
John Billing, former Professor and Chairman of Exercise and Sport Science
Dr. Mary Wayne Watson says
Thank you, Dr. Moracco. As a result of your prompt, I emailed Kevin a letter of support.
Sincerely,
Mary Wayne Watson, PhD
Brian Letourneau says
Good luck with that!! Chancellor Guskiewicz is as good as gone. The State of North Carolina has no use for an academic free thinker. This has been demonstrated in excruciating detail over the last decade and continues to erode the reputation of our beloved University. The dye has been cast and the color is black.
Brian Letourneau, MSPH 1985
Rusty Gibbs says
The loss of Chancellor Guskiewicz would be a setback for our University; he has provided tremendous leadership in tumultuous times. I hope Chancellor Guskiewicz knows how appreciated he is and decides to continue his work at one of the greatest Universities in the world.
Rusty Gibbs – Class of 98