Create a free Diverse: Issues In Higher Education account to continue reading. Already have an account? Enter your email to access the article.

North Carolina A&T Chancellor

North Carolina A&T Chancellor
Appointed to Top Post at ACE

A&T Provost named new president of Norfolk State University

WASHINGTON
In a move that higher education officials say is a good one, Dr. James C. Renick, chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, has been appointed senior vice president for programs and research at the American Council on Education effective June 1.

“It’s a very welcomed appointment because ACE has always been open to diversity ideas and had a diverse staff, but for a while there appeared to be a glass ceiling for minorities in the highest levels,” says Dr. Sara E. Melendez, former executive director of Independent Sector, in reaction to Renick’s appointment. Melendez and Dr. Reginald Wilson, who founded ACE’s Office of Minority Affairs, now the Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity (CAREE), are credited with being the architects of one of the most successful minority affairs organizations in the history of higher education associations.

As senior vice president for programs and research (formerly programs and analysis), Renick will be responsible for working with senior program staff to develop an integrated, visionary and focused program agenda for ACE that reflects the council’s strategic priorities as it works to respond to the changing demands on campus leaders.

Recognized for his success in a number of areas including access and opportunity, Renick will provide strategic leadership in the areas of diversity and access; leadership and institutional effectiveness; international initiatives; and lifelong learning, according to ACE.

“This is the programmatic part of ACE. This is where we try to move the discussion about higher education forward by focusing on issues that are important right now and issues that will be important down the road,” says Terry Hartle, senior vice president for public affairs and government.

According to Hartle, there were approximately 60 applicants for the vice president position. “He had the most experience and the best ideas about where he wanted to go in the areas that will be under his domain,” Hartle says.

 Under Renick’s almost six-year tenure, NCA&T has become one of the top producers of African-American baccalaureates and for the past few years has claimed either the No. 1 or No. 2 spot for producing the most Black engineers. Just recently, the university dedicated the new James C. Renick School of Education Building.

Renick’s appointment makes means ACE now features African-Americans in two highly visible positions. Ben Quillian is the senior vice president for business and operations at the association. Dr. William B. Harvey, who previously led CAREE, was named senior vice president and chief diversity officer at the University of Virginia last fall.

 “Jim Renick coming to ACE in the second highest position in the organization that represents all of higher education in America is inspiring not only for Black people but for all people,” Wilson says.
Renick says he’s very supportive of ACE President David Ward’s leadership.

“David Ward has outlined a very progressive program and broad strategic vision. It’s going to be very important that I align my priorities with ACE’s strategic vision. And that’s what I’m excited about,” Renick says. “I’ve always felt that I had an obligation both personally and professionally to make a difference. This new challenge will provide me with the opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale.”

Dr. Carolyn Winstead Meyers, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at A&T, will not be filling Renick’s shoes, as she was recently named president of Norfolk State University, an HBCU in Norfolk, Va.

A tenured professor in the College of Engineering at A&T, Meyers holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Howard University, a master’s in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech and a doctorate in chemical engineering, also from Georgia Tech.

“The presidential search committee strongly felt that Dr. Meyers’ background in science and technology was the right fit to position Norfolk State as a major player in the areas of scientific research,” says Jack Ezzell, NSU’s rector. “Her extensive academic career, ties to the Hampton Roads region and her deep appreciation of a strong liberal arts program and HBCU tradition put her over the top.”



© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com

The trusted source for all job seekers
We have an extensive variety of listings for both academic and non-academic positions at postsecondary institutions.
Read More
The trusted source for all job seekers