UNC Gets A New Leader
Friday, August 27 2010
by Dave DeWitt
Eric Hodge: The University of North Carolina has a new president. Tom Ross has been chosen to lead the UNC system. It’s a massive job - 17 institutions and a $7.4 billion budget. Unlike his predecessor Erskine Bowles, Ross is not a household name in the state. But he has a unique mix of experience as a judge, the leader of a major foundation, and president of Davidson College. It’s a background that some say makes him the perfect choice for the job. Dave DeWitt reports.
Dave DeWitt: D.G. Martin first met Tom Ross when Ross was a student at Davidson College 40 years ago. Martin’s father was president of the College, and even then he saw something in Ross.
DG Martin: We’ve always known that he is persuasive, that’s he’s trustworthy, honest, and an engaging person. I think those of us who have known him for a long time knew that he was cut out for leadership.
Few individuals in the state’s public sphere have had more varied leadership experience than Ross. He has managed organizations big and small, from the state’s court system to the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to Davidson College.
Tom Ross: What I’ve learned is that a lot of the issues and problems and struggles you face in leading an institution are the same, there may be a difference in scale. So I suspect in some ways there won’t be a huge difference.
Ross grew up in Greensboro. After Davidson, he went on to UNC Law School. When he was named a superior court judge by Jim Hunt in 1984, he was the youngest in the state to hold that position. He led the effort for sentencing reform in the 1990s. It was there that he picked up the skill that will serve him best in his new job - working the back hallways of the state legislature. Hannah Gage is the chair of the Board of Governors.
Hannah Gage: The day he walks in, he will be respected at the legislature, because he knows most of the people over there. He’s done this before.
After serving on his alma mater’s board of trustees, Ross took over as president of Davidson College three years ago. There, the reaction to his departure is mixed. Christina Blackwood is a junior at Davidson.
Christina Blackwood: He had a lot of plans such as building a literary center and the diversity initiative that we have on campus and I hope the new president is able to follow through with them, but I’m really sad that he’s decided to take another position.
Ross admits the decision to leave Davidson was difficult.
Ross: It’s tough, I’ll be honest with you. It’s a place I love, my wife and I have been very happy there. The people there have been very wonderful to us, but you know there’s a part of my life that’s always been invested in public service.
Ross got the UNC system job after the Board of Governors whittled about 50 candidates down to nine. Gage says Ross was the clear choice after those nine were interviewed.
Gage: It was his roots in the state, his understanding of the state. The fact that he has spent his life trying to improve other people’s lives, and that’s what the university does. That’s the University’s mission at its core. And it was a very easy, unanimous decision.
Ross’ hiring comes as no surprise to his old friend, D.G. Martin. Martin served as a lobbyist for the UNC system and thinks Ross will serve the public universities well.
Martin: His history in managing people at different levels and inspiring even indirectly the work of people who are working hands-on. He’s got a pretty good record of success.
Ross says some of his first initiatives will be to develop new partnerships with the state’s community colleges and push for new technologies. But his first act as UNC system president will be the same thing he did the day he was hired at Davidson.
Ross: First thing I’ll do is pick up the budget and try to learn it and understand it because I think that is the heart and soul of teaching you about an organization because where the money goes is where the priorities are and where the activities are so I’ll do that here just as I did there.
Ross will take over the UNC system on New Year’s Day.
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