NC State Alumnus Kevin Howell Appointed 15th Chancellor
RALEIGH, NC – Kevin Howell, chief external affairs officer at UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine, has been named chancellor of North Carolina State University, becoming the 15th leader of the institution.
UNC System President Peter Hans made the announcement following approval by the UNC Board of Governors. Howell will succeed Randy Woodson, who is retiring after 15 years of service as NC State’s chancellor.
A Leader with Deep Ties to NC State
“Kevin Howell is a born leader with a long record of service to North Carolina, the UNC System, and NC State University,” said Hans. “His deep relationships across the state have helped drive investment and growth. I am confident that he will strengthen NC State’s role as a frontier research university, keeping North Carolina competitive in the most important fields of our future.”
Howell, an NC State alumnus, will assume his duties on May 5 and will receive an annual salary of $600,000. He becomes the third NC State graduate to serve as chancellor.
A Proven Track Record
Before his appointment, Howell served as chief external affairs officer for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine, leading public policy and legislative strategies for a vast health system encompassing 19 hospitals, more than 900 clinics, 3,000 physicians, and over 40,000 employees. His role included cultivating key government relationships, directing philanthropy, and overseeing strategic branding, marketing, and communications.
Prior to his tenure at UNC Health, Howell was vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships, and economic development at NC State from 2018 to 2023. During this time, he focused on building economic partnerships, fostering local and global engagement, and spearheading initiatives that led to job creation and investments across North Carolina.
“Kevin Howell is a leader with incredible connection- and relationship-building skills,” said Ed Weisiger, member of the chancellor search committee and chair of the NC State Board of Trustees. “He is a trusted partner to those he leads and to those with whom he interacts. He simply makes organizations better by working in them.”
NC State’s Next Chapter
NC State, home to approximately 39,000 students, is known for its excellence in engineering, agriculture, biotechnology, biomedical research, and artificial intelligence. The university’s Centennial Campus has become a national model for research parks, fostering innovation through partnerships with government and industry.
“We’re excited to welcome Kevin Howell back home to NC State,” said Ed Stack, chair of the chancellor search committee. “Among an impressive group of candidates, he stood out as the strongest choice. Kevin truly exemplifies NC State’s ‘Think and Do’ spirit.”
A 13-member search committee comprised of NC State trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni spent five months reviewing candidates before President Hans made his selection.
A Legacy of Service
A native of Shelby, NC, Howell earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from NC State in 1988, serving as student body president during his senior year. He later obtained a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and clerked on the NC Court of Appeals. His distinguished career includes roles as senior vice president for external affairs with the UNC System and director of governmental affairs for the NC Bar Association.
Beyond his professional work, Howell serves on the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and the NC Symphony Board. He also contributes to the advisory board for NC State’s Friday Institute for Educational Innovation.
Howell and his wife, Aleta, have two adult children.