The final Board of Trustees meeting of the academic year always features the swearing in of the newly-elected student body president and recognition of the incumbent’s accomplishments, but the SBP office wasn’t the only leadership position being passed on at Friday’s meeting at the Dorothy and Ray Park Alumni Center.
Chancellor Randy Woodson attended the meeting formally for the first time as the head of the University as the transition between the interim chancellor, Jim Woodward, and Woodson came full circle.
Woodson had nothing but praise for Woodward and said his aid during the change of power made the entire process nearly seamless.
“From the day I was named chancellor, Jim Woodward has been a constant companion,” he said. “He has helped me tremendously. The transition couldn’t have been smoother because Jim Woodward has been so collaborative.”
But even as the University formally filled its top position Woodson already must begin the search for a permanent provost to relieve interim Warwick Arden. Woodson said while Arden had performed admirably in the role, the next step forward for the University was to
unite in its search for a provost, which will be conducted through a service similar to the one that brought Woodson to Raleigh.
“We all agree that we want to make sure that this search is open and aggressive,” Woodson said during the meeting.
The meeting also included the swearing in of Kelly Hook as student body president. Outgoing president Jim Ceresnak gave his final report, highlighting his term’s accomplishments from getting Wolf Wheels rolling to Howl For Haiti.
Hook, whose parents and brother were in attendance, said when she attends her final BOT meeting next April, she’ll have similar successes to share.
“When I get up there, I’m going to say we’re a better Wolfpack and a stronger student family than we were when we started,” Hook said, adding she’ll seek to fill vacancies on standing committees at the University to ensure student input is heard across the campus.
Hook said there are 21 University standing committees with two seats reserved for students in each, and most of those seats are empty.
