He’s breaking barriers again!
Back in 1987, Kevin Howell made history as North Carolina State University’s first Black student body president. Nearly four decades later, his journey has come full circle with a unanimous vote by the UNC System Board of Governors to appoint him as the next chancellor of the university, The News & Observer reports
“It’s good to be home at NC State,” Howell said to a standing ovation at Talley Student Union after his election
Howell officially stepped into the role on May 5th, marking a monumental moment not just for the university, but for the broader landscape of higher education in North Carolina.
“Kevin is the personification of what makes NC State an extraordinary institution,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “The kind of place where a talented young man from Cleveland County can find a home, break ground as the first-ever Black student body president, and then choose to devote his life to the upkeep and uplift of public education.”
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A political science graduate of NC State and a law school graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill, Howell is not a traditional academic—but his résumé spans two decades of public service and leadership in education. From his early work as a liaison to the General Assembly for Governors Jim Hunt and Mike Easley, to his most recent position as chief external affairs officer for UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine, Howell has long operated at the intersection of policy, strategy, and service.
“Over the years, Kevin has built an incredible team and helped coordinate the university’s relations with local and federal government leaders, supported the creation of partnerships and spurred economic development investments with significant impacts for our university and our state,” outgoing Chancellor Randy Woodson said in 2024 upon Howell’s departure.
Howell has also left an indelible mark on economic engagement. In 2019, under his leadership, NC State won the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ top national award for economic development. He likened the honor to “winning a national championship.”
But Howell’s return comes at a pivotal time. As universities across the country navigate political tensions, budget constraints, and challenges to diversity and research funding, Howell is being called to guide NC State forward with strength and resolve. “I pledge to be the right person, at the right time, for this university for many, many years to come,” he said.
Hans echoed that confidence. “The Wolfpack is ready to run in this new and formidable age, and I believe Kevin Howell is ready to lead them,” he said. “There can be no sense of complacency. Change is accelerating, and he must lead the Pack forward.”
From student leader to university chancellor, Howell’s story is a living testament to what it means to rise, return, and lead. As President Hans put it, “NC State needs a leader who understands that this university’s greatest innovation is the melding of practical wisdom and academic expertise in the service of public good. And I’m proud we have just such a leader, a person who not only believes in the transformational power of this great university, but has lived it.”
Cover photo: Kevin Howell Named NC State’s First Black Chancellor, 40 Years After Making History as First Black Student President/Photo credit: Special Collections Research Center at NC State University Libraries/The University of North Carolina System