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 Tom Ross is the man for this time
by Tom Campbell
August 26, 2010
The UNC Board of Governors deserves applause for their selection of Tom Ross as the next President of the UNC System. His character, experience and leadership make him the man for this time. Our state and its people are literally woven throughout the fabric of his life.
The Greensboro native grew up in a home where his father worked in one of our state’s core businesses, textiles. Educated at Davidson, Tom attained honors at UNC law and over the next few years taught at the UNC Institute of Government, practiced a bit of law and served as chief of staff for Congressman Robin Britt. Tom was already wise beyond his years when appointed a judge of Superior Court, but over the next seventeen years Judge Ross had to face both the voters as well as the people in sorting out serious legal issues. His maturity and leadership were tested when he was charged with heading a 23 member committee that established the first structured sentencing guidelines in North Carolina. Ross passed with accolades from all sides.
Those most familiar with Tom Ross identify him as head of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, one of the largest and most significant philanthropic organizations in the state, indeed the South. Here he became closely connected with individuals and groups wanting to improve life in many diverse ways. His leadership further elevated the stature of this foundation. Davidson College trustees understood the uniqueness of the man they selected their new president three years ago.
UNC’s Board of Governors examined Ross’s background, character, experience, seasoned leadership skills and his unequalled love for and knowledge of this state in making their choice for their new President.
Ross will face significant challenges as he takes over our 23 campus system, perhaps the single most influential organization in our state, larger than and as complex as any Fortune 500 corporation. With state appropriations of about 2.7 billion dollars (around 12 percent of our total budget, but only a fraction of the total university budget) there are serious financial pressures. For the next few years North Carolina will be in a time when dollars are limited so Ross will be forced to demand both accountability and efficiency from the system. Competition and demands among the individual institutions are large and growing, along with the ongoing struggles between professors, administrators, researchers, students, disparate boards and support groups. A big sports fan, Ross will face continuing challenges over whether universities rule athletics or vice versa. Then there is the always significant challenge of accounting to and requesting funding and authority from the legislature.
Perhaps Tom Ross’ biggest challenge will be to provide visionary leadership for a state that desperately needs it. President Emeritus William Friday clearly understood the role our universities can play in our state’s economic, cultural and educational success as well as his leadership role in those areas. Tom Ross is uniquely qualified to assume this mantle and use his position to challenge and help us move forward. We pray his success because, in no small measure, his success will also be our state’s success. |
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