I am writing to update you on some changes in our Cabinet leadership and the structure of our University and External Relations, Development and Alumni, and Campus Community and Climate divisions.
Vice President for University and External Relations Dan Weaver has decided to leave UNC at the end of May to start a consulting business. I know there are many of us who will be sorry to see Dan go, but I hope you will join me in wishing him well.
In his almost 16 years at UNC, Dan has secured more than $70 million in state capital funding and federal earmarks for the university, created our first integrated marketing operation, and built an academically and athletically strong Division I intercollegiate athletics program. Under his leadership since 2014, our athletics program has made numerous Big Sky championship appearances and won five championships while climbing to the very top of the conference in academics.
Dan’s understanding of change management, organizational development and how to build teams make him the ultimate utility player. After coming to UNC to create the university’s first government relations office, he served in several roles, including executive director of external affairs and interim athletic director. As vice president, he oversees UNC’s marketing, public relations, communication, government relations and intercollegiate athletics operations.
Dan shared his intentions with me some time ago, so we’ve had time to be thoughtful about our next steps. After numerous conversations with Cabinet members and other campus leaders, I have decided to combine University and External Relations with Development and Alumni Relations to create a University Advancement division. A division of Advancement serves as a strategic, integrated method of managing communication and relationships to increase understanding and support among an institution's key constituents, including students, faculty, and staff; alumni and friends; government policy makers; the media; members of the community; and philanthropic entities of all types. This structure will more effectively integrate our communication and engagement work on behalf of all of UNC’s many stakeholders while also reducing costs.
I am pleased to announce that Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Allie Steg Haskett has agreed to transition into the role of Vice President for University Advancement, effective May 27. She will oversee development, alumni relations, government relations, external relations, and marketing and strategic communications. Intercollegiate Athletics is the only exception to the combined structure; it will now report directly to me. We will eliminate the vice president positions now held by Dan and Allie.
As you know, Allie was instrumental to the success of our first comprehensive campaign, which we celebrated in April. The Campaign for UNC raised more than $54 million, surpassing our goal by almost $10 million. With Allie’s leadership, the Campaign also engaged more than 12,000 alumni from across the country in support of UNC as donors, career and admissions volunteers, and advocates for the university.
Allie is a proud UNC graduate with a degree in Communication who began her career developing volunteers and donors for the American Cancer Society. She returned to her alma mater in 2005 as associate director of alumni relations. She served as director of corporate and foundation relations and then as assistant vice president for development before being named vice president in 2017. Her experience and Bear pride are an excellent match for leading the integration of Development and Alumni Relations and University Relations into the new University Advancement structure and ensuring that this new division positions UNC for our exciting future.
I am also pleased to announce that Vice President for Campus Community and Climate Katrina Rodriguez’s title will change to Vice President for Student Affairs, effective immediately. Over the past several months, Katrina has been leading our efforts to create a Student Affairs division, which will continue to take shape as we work with Huron to identify structural and operational changes to better serve students. Working together, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs will unify our efforts to promote student success.
The Dean of Students and Office of Student Engagement will move from Academic Affairs to Student Affairs. The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance and the Office of Equity and Inclusion, including our cultural and resource centers, will continue to report to Katrina in her expanded role. Bringing these areas into Student Affairs will better connect our community building and campus climate work with our efforts to support students. As we work through this transition we will also identify campus partners, such as Human Resources, to work with Student Affairs to ensure that we continue to address campus climate for staff and faculty.
Katrina brings invaluable perspective and expertise to this work. A UNC graduate and the first in her family to attend college, she has more than 25 years’ experience in student affairs at five universities. Before becoming vice president in 2016, she served five years as our assistant vice president for student engagement and dean of students. She also held staff positions in UNC’s Housing & Residential Education, Women’s Resource Center and Stryker Institute for Leadership Development, and was an associate professor in our Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership program, where she earned a Ph.D.
Please join me in congratulating Katrina, Allie and Dan.
Rowing, Not Drifting,
Andy Feinstein
President
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