get these nets
Veteran
| January 17, 2024 |
NCCU chancellor Johnson Akinleye to retire in June
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| NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY |
| North Carolina Central University Chancellor Johnson Akinleye is retiring June 30 after seven years leading the historically Black campus. |
North Carolina Central University Chancellor Johnson Akinleye will step down from the university’s top leadership position at the end of the academic year.
His last day will be June 30.
“I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this esteemed university through a period of growth and innovation, a period when the institution was primed for transformative change,” Akinleye said in a message to the campus community.
“I am immensely proud and truly gratified to have worked with very talented executive staff, a supportive Board of Trustees, a dedicated faculty and staff and thousands of caring and dedicated alumni across the nation and worldwide during the past eight-plus years,” Akinleye said in his message.
Akinleye has been at the helm of Durham’s NCCU, one of the UNC System’s historically Black colleges and universities since 2017. Over that time, the Durham campus, its student body and mission have grown.
“During his nearly eight years as chancellor, Dr. Akinleye has helped the university increase its academic offerings, enrollment, research funding and capital infrastructure,” said UNC System President Peter Hans in a statement. “The chancellor also helped to elevate the university’s national presence, prioritizing access, affordability and student success. We are grateful for Dr. Akinleye’s service and leadership.”
Akinleye’s announcement comes after several recent high profile leadership changes at state universities, including two other HBCUs. North Carolina A&T State University Chancellor Harold Martin announced he would step down last September and Winston-Salem State University Chancellor Elwood Robinson retired last June. A&T is the largest HBCU in the nation while WSSU is one of the smaller campuses in the system. Last month UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz’s also announced his move to Michigan State University.
Chancellor searches are currently under way at those three universities under a recently revamped process. A search committee should be announced soon at NCCU, beginning the process there.
“Since leading this stellar academic enterprise, we have made tremendous progress and accumulated many accolades,” Akinyele said in his message. “Enrollment is healthy and growing. We have added two new colleges as an outgrowth of an academic realignment, the College of Health and Sciences and the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, to better address the needs of our students and the emerging marketplace.”
NCCU enrolls just under 8,000 students and was listed 11th by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings among the nation’s top HBCUs. Kevin Holloway, chair of NCCU’s Board of Trustees, praised Akinleye’s leadership in a statement.
“In Chancellor Akinleye, NCCU has been blessed to have a visionary who is student-focused, a leader who established the successful preparation of graduates for the global marketplace as his true measure of success,” Holloway said. “I am pleased to have worked alongside him for his entire tenure as chancellor, and to be able to embrace his vision and growth strategy for our beloved university. The major expansion in infrastructure, additional academic portfolio, enrollment growth and improved ranking of NCCU serve as a testament to Chancellor Akinleye’s leadership.”
Akinyele said he and his family treasure their years as part of the NCCU community.
“We take with us very fond memories of an institution that has a rich tradition and legacy and will continue to make great strides in championing education for generations yet to come,” he said in his statement. “We shall continue to cherish and nourish the friendships we have made and our love and passion for this great institution, North Carolina Central University.”