Margaret Spellings, president of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, and former U.S. Secretary of Education, was elected president of the 17-campus University of North Carolina during a special meeting of the UNC Board of Governors on Oct. 23.

Ann Goodnight and Therence Pickett, co-vice chairs of the 11-member search committee charged with bringing finalists to the full board for consideration, delivered the group’s unanimous recommendation. Spellings, 57, will take office March 1, 2016, succeeding Thomas W. Ross, who is stepping down in January after five years in the post.

“Given her stature, proven intellect, skill set and passion for education, Margaret Spellings is perfectly positioned to lead the UNC system into the future,” said search committee chair, Joan McNeill, who was out of the country and unable to attend the meeting.

Spellings has served as president of the Bush Center since 2013. In that role, she oversees the operations of the former U.S. President’s foundation, public policy institute and, in collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration, his presidential library and museum. Her work at the Bush Center includes the 2014 launch of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a one-of-a-kind leadership program born out of the first-ever partnership of multiple presidential centers. The nonpartisan George W. Bush Institute is focused on developing and implementing policy programs on leadership development, economic growth, education reform, human freedom and special initiatives focused on global women’s issues and helping post-9/11 veterans and their families make a successful transition to civilian life.

Spellings was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but spent much of her childhood in Houston. She is a 1979 graduate of the University of Houston, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She also received an honorary doctorate and Distinguished Alumna Award from the university in 2006.

Early in her career, Spellings served as legislative director and chief committee clerk for the Texas House of Representatives, special projects director for Austin Community College, and led governmental and external relations for the Texas Association of School Boards. From 1995–2000, she was senior advisor to then-Gov. George W. Bush.

Following his election as president, Spellings served in key positions in the Bush Administration. As White House Domestic Policy Advisor (2001–05), she led the development of the President’s domestic policy agenda. Her areas of responsibility included education, transportation, health, justice, housing and labor. In that role, she oversaw the development of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the development of a comprehensive immigration plan, and numerous other initiatives.

From 2005–09, Spellings served as U.S. Secretary of Education, the nation’s senior policy official on all aspects of education—primary, secondary and post-secondary. She oversaw an agency with an annual budget of nearly $70 billion and more than 10,000 employees and contractors. During her tenure she led the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act, a national bipartisan initiative to provide greater accountability for the education of 50 million U.S. public school students.

As Secretary, she also launched a higher education national policy debate and action plan to improve the accessibility, affordability, and accountability of the nation’s colleges and universities. In addition to developing and implementing international education agreements on behalf of the President, she also helped manage the federal role in the aftermath of crises including Hurricane Katrina, the credit crunch in the student loan industry, and the Virginia Tech shootings.

From 2009 until joining the Bush Center in 2013, Spellings was president and CEO of Margaret Spellings and Company, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm that provided strategic guidance on a variety of domestic policy matters, particularly those related to education and workforce issues. During much of this same period, she served as a president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, leading its initiatives to drive effective education and workforce training reform.

A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Fellow, Spellings currently serves on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Education Advisory Board, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Advisory Council, and the board of the National Endowment for Democracy. She also chairs the Board of Advisors for Ceannate Corp and is a director of the American Funds/Capital Research and Management Company and ClubCorp.

Spellings has two adult daughters.

Following her election as the UNC system’s next president, Spellings told the Board of Governors: “I believe that there is no more important area of public policy than education. It is not an overstatement to say that education is not only fundamental to each individual North Carolinian, but to the success and future of this state, this country and to peace and stability in the world. I believe this with every fiber of my being, and that is why I will work tirelessly with all of you to ensure that each and every student in North Carolina has not only access to higher education, but the skills and abilities to fully access the American Dream.”

The University Awards and Convocation Planning Committee is seeking nominations by Monday, Nov. 16, for the 2016 North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Human Rights Medal.

This award honors individuals who have endeavored to correct social injustice and have significantly contributed to the betterment of the world. Candidates may be locally, nationally or internationally recognized. The winner will be notified in December and will be invited to accept the award at the Annual Sit-in Breakfast marking the anniversary of the N.C. A&T Sit-in Movement that began on Feb. 1, 1960. The 2016 event is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 1.

The recipient must be able to accept the award in person at the Sit-in Breakfast on A&T’s campus.  

Eligibility

The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Human Rights Medal is presented to an individual who has had a positive impact on correcting social injustices and other humanitarian activities. Other humanitarian activities might include human welfare and social reform, acts of heroism, promotion of fellowship, dedication to technological discovery, academic advancements or contributions, diplomatic endeavors, and community contributions.

Nominees for the Human Rights Medal are evaluated according to actions demonstrated by the individual and the scope of her or his contribution within the community.

Any outstanding individual who has had a positive impact on humanity is eligible to receive this award for one or more of the following reasons: correcting social injustice, heroism, promotion of fellowship, technological discovery, academic contributions, diplomatic achievements, human welfare, social reform, and/or significant community contributions.

Anyone may nominate. The nominator should include clear and complete contact information for herself/himself.

For information on how to nominate an individual, visit the Human Rights Medal web site at www.library.ncat.edu/hrm. Need more information? Contact Vicki Coleman, committee chair and dean of library services, at vcoleman@ncat.edu or 336-285-4151.

Two town hall meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Thursday, Nov. 5, both at 3 p.m. in the Academic Classroom Building, room 101, for the campus community to provide input after reviewing the report from the Academic Restructuring Steering Committee (ARSC). Click here to view the ARSC’s report.

The first two phases of the Academic Restructuring and Program Analysis initiative that began in the spring are complete.

In phase one, a four-member External Review Committee reviewed the current academic structure and program inventory, and produced a set of recommendations that resulted from its analysis of university data and meetings with faculty, staff and students during the visit in April.

In phase two, the internal ARSC was charged with: (1) responding to the overall structures provided by the External Review Committee from the perspective of (a) configurations that provide effective and efficient use of the university’s resources and provide cost savings and (b) configurations that provide synergy and opportunities for expansion in research, scholarship and creative activity; (2) identifying new programmatic areas consistent with market and enrollment trends; (3) identifying existing programmatic areas that are not consistent with market and enrollment trends; and (4) developing a framework for the ongoing review of academic programs.

The next phases of the Academic Restructuring and Program Analysis initiative as outlined in earlier presentations include: (1) the provost’s review of the ASRC’s recommendations in concert with academic deans; (2) the provost’s report with recommendations to the chancellor; and the chancellor’s report with recommendations to the board of trustees during the board’s November meeting.