NC State University Chancellor Randy Woodson announced he plans to retire at the end of this academic year via a press release on July 18, 2024.
In a video announcing his retirement, Woodson expressed his deep gratitude, saying, “We’re so grateful for the support and kindness you’ve shown to our family over these many years,” he continued, “I will leave to others to assess the impact we’ve had on the NC State community, but I say without reservation that the impact this community has had on us is immeasurable.”
Woodson began his academic career as a professor at Purdue University’s department of Horticulture. He served as the head of the department before becoming the associate dean of agriculture and the agricultural research programs office director in 1998. He was promoted to executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Purdue University in May 2008.
Woodson became the fourteenth chancellor at NC State on Jan. 8, 2010, succeeding Jim Woodward, who served as interim chancellor. The prior chancellor, James L. Oblinger, left NC State after criticisms over the university possibly hiring Mary P. Easley, the former first lady of North Carolina, as a favor to the governor. The controversy led to a federal investigation.
Under Woodson’s tenure, the university saw growth in several areas. NC State’s graduation rate rose from 78 percent in 2010 to 85 percent, setting a personal record in 2023 for degree and certificate completion. First-year enrollment grew 65 percent under Woodson’s term, per WRAL.
NC State became one of twelve public universities to raise over $2 billion for its endowment in the “Think and Do the Extraordinary” fundraising campaign. The campaign’s initial goal of $1.6 billion was met in 2019, two years earlier than expected.
Woodson oversaw the construction of the Integrative Sciences Building, along with the renovation of Talley Student Union and the Wellness and Recreation Center. He also led changes to NC State’s Centennial Campus, including the construction of James B. Hunt Library, the Plant Sciences Building and Fitts-Woolard Hall.
Woodson’s tenure has not been without criticism. In 2016, he faced criticism for his response to racist messages made in an NC State online chat room. The remarks came after a student protest against police brutality. In a town hall, Woodson delivered a four-minute response that received criticism from several students in the crowd for failing to put forth solutions per ABC 11.
On June 1, 2020, Nubian Message released a letter from the editor criticizing Woodson’s response to student concerns regarding police brutality.
“So again, I call for you to release a statement. Please reflect on the actions of your administration and the administrations prior to you. Remember the demographics of your institution. You cannot say that you condemn racism and discrimination without condemning your own actions that have contributed to that fact,” the letter said. The original statement from Woodson has since been deleted.
Woodson also faced criticism for his role in knowing about Poe Hall’s contamination.
On Nov. 1, 2023, NC State closed Poe Hall due to the presence of environmental contaminants. A report from WRAL claimed that NC State had questions surrounding Poe Hall since 2007. On Feb. 12, 2024, the College of Education’s faculty voted no-confidence in Chancellor Woodson due to his handling of Poe Hall.
Despite these controversies, Woodson was one of the US’s most successful chancellors, winning several awards including the Association of University Research Parks’ Award of Excellence in Leadership. He’s also the third-longest serving chief executive in NC State history and served three times longer than the average chancellor in the US.
In 2021, Woodson received a two-year contract extension that made him the highest-paid public university chancellor in the US at the time. Woodson’s contract expires on June 30, 2025, marking the end of his tenure at NC State.
Woodson concluded the video announcing his retirement, saying, “Next month we will welcome to campus almost 39,000 students as we begin a new academic year. I’m as excited about this new academic year as I was in 2010, and I look forward to all that we will do together in the next year as we continue to live up to our mission and vision as a leading land-grant university. Susan and I look forward to seeing each of you soon, but until then, go Pack.”
On July 19, 2024, UNC System President Peter Hans issued a press release confirming the formation of the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee. Per UNC System policy, the committee will propose a list of potential finalists for the position. The committee will have thirteen members, including Hans and current NC State Student Body President Allison Markert.
According to UNC system policy, UNC System President Peter Hans will, among other tasks, “interview chancellor finalists, participate in the reference checking process, negotiate the terms of employment for a chancellor-elect consistent with state law and Board policy, and offer a chancellor-elect for final consideration by the Board of Governors.”
Ed Stack, vice chair of the NC State board of trustees, will head the search committee.
“I am looking forward to working with my fellow committee members to assist President Hans in finding the next leader of NC State University,” Stack said in an article by the UNC System. “Chancellor Woodson has built a tremendous legacy over his 14-plus years and I am certain that we can find someone who will build upon that legacy and push NC State to new heights in engineering, agriculture, research, scholarship, innovation and economic development.”
In recent years, the UNC System has been criticized for many of its decisions, including the recent chancellor selection at UNC-Chapel Hill.
On Dec. 14, 2023, Lee Roberts was named interim chancellor at UNC Chapel Hill. Roberts had previously served on the UNC System’s board of governors and as former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s budget director.
Roberts had no experience working in academia. The Daily Tar Heel, UNC-Chapel Hill’s student newspaper, penned an opinion article opposing the hire, largely due to his partisan connections. On Aug. 9, 2024, Lee Roberts was selected as UNC-Chapel Hill’s next chancellor.
This year, five other UNC System Schools, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina A&T, Winston Salem State University and Appalachian State University, are also searching for new chancellors.
Chancellor Woodson will retire effective June 30, 2025. NC State has established the “Celebrating Transformation” webpage, which allows people to thank the former chancellor and donate to projects Woodson supported. The Chancellor Search Advisory Committee also created a brief anonymous survey for students to submit input on the chancellor search via a survey.
