Lee Roberts Appointed Chancellor of UNC

Lee Roberts has been officially appointed as the chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, following a unanimous vote by the UNC system board of governors. Roberts, who has served as interim chancellor since January 12, presided over the university's graduation ceremony in May and garnered respect for his handling of campus demonstrations related to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. UNC System President Peter Hans commended Roberts for his ability to engage with dissenting opinions and for prioritizing the university's needs over personal visibility. Despite being invited to discuss the protests on national television, Roberts chose to focus on local engagement, conducting interviews with Chapel Hill's radio station and meeting extensively with faculty, students, and community leaders. This approach reflects his commitment to maintaining a constructive dialogue on campus. In his statement, Roberts emphasized the importance of free speech, noting that the university has a tradition of allowing voices to be heard. His background includes five years on the UNC System Board of Governors, where he chaired the budget committee, and he played a significant role in the Connect NC bond issue, which allocated $2 billion for university projects, including $1 billion for higher education. Roberts, a Georgetown University law graduate and co-founder of the Raleigh-based private investment firm SharpVue Capital, is poised to lead UNC Chapel Hill, which is part of a larger system comprising 17 campuses across North Carolina.