Kevin Howell is the New NC State Chancellor

It was just announced that Kevin Howell will be the new chancellor at NC State, replacing Randy Woodson, who has led the university for the past 15 years.

Howell is the 15th chancellor in the university’s history and the first African American to ever hold this office.

In 1988, Howell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science before going on to earn a Law Degree at UNC.

Howell is only the third NC State alum to become chancellor. Breaking through barriers is not new for Howell; he was the first African American elected as Student Body President at NC State. Further, he is the first former Student Body President to eventually become chancellor.

For Howell, this role is not just a return to his alma mater; it is also a return to his former workplace. From 2006 to 2016, he served as Assistant to the Chancellor for External Affairs, directing the university’s legislative strategy and serving as a legislative liaison to state and local government agencies and elected leaders. From 2018 to 2023, Howell was NC State’s Vice Chancellor for External Affairs, Partnerships, and Economic Development, managing units tasked with partnerships, economic development, the Small Business and Technology Development Center, state and local relations, and federal affairs. He led a strategic focus to build and manage relationships and economic partnerships to enhance local and global engagement, creating new jobs and investments for North Carolina. (Link)

Most recently, he served as the Chief External Affairs Officer at UNC Health.

One last historical note: Howell is the first person named Chancellor at NC State who is not a career academic.