CHAPEL HILL (Dec. 17, 2020) – The UNC Board of Governors chose Greenville native Philip G. Rogers today as the next chancellor at East Carolina University.
“Dr. Rogers is a driven leader who brings energy and vitality to ECU,” said UNC System President Peter Hans.
“He has broad national higher education experience and deep local roots in Greenville. Philip is invested in ECU for the long haul and will bring steady, stable leadership. It’s my enormous pleasure to welcome Philip and his family home.”
Hans said that Rogers understands the institution, knows how to build a long-range vision and understands the important role of health care in ECU’s identity.
“He is a Pirate,” Hans said.
Rogers grew up in Greenville and counts several generations of ECU graduates – including his wife, Dr. Rebekah Page Rogers – in his family.
He has a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University, a master’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania. He worked at ECU for six years as an aide and chief of staff to then-Chancellor Steven Ballard, who retired in 2016..
Rogers currently is the senior vice president for learning and engagement at the American Council on Education (ACE), the nation’s leading research, policy and advocacy organization for the nation’s colleges and universities. He previously worked as Vice President and chief of staff at ACE.
Rogers will assume his new duties March 15.
THE ECU COMMUNITY deserves some stability; Rogers’ selection follows a tumultuous period for the university.
Former Chancellor Cecil Staton resigned in May 2019 and has since filed suit against the UNC System and former Board of Governors Chair Harry Smith over what he contends was his forced removal.1
Later in 2019, former Board of Governors member Tom Fetzer used a private attorney to investigate Interim Chancellor Dan Gerlach drinking and dancing with students, even though the UNC System had hired an international law firm to conduct an investigation, and Gerlach resigned.2
In October 2019, Dr. Ron Mitchelson, who had spent 20 years at ECUas a professor, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, has served ECU as provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, was named Interim Chancellor.3 Mitchelson announced last month that he will retire at the end of June 2021.4
In February, two members resigned from the ECU Board of Trustees to avoid forced removal after they attempted to intervene in a student election and offered financial support to a potential candidate for student body president.5
The coronavirus pandemic then interrupted the chancellor search, which resumed in September.
Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey praised both ECU’s search committee and Rogers’ local roots.
“Dr. Rogers embodies the spirit of the Pirate Nation. He is homegrown and fiercely loyal to eastern North Carolina,” Ramsey said. “When he assumes his role at ECU’s helm, I’m confident Philip will lead the university and the region it serves to greater heights of innovation and success.”
1 https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article243715872.html.
2 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2019/10/29/two-chancellor-searches-two-controversies-one-interesting-concidence/.
3 https://news.ecu.edu/2019/10/31/mitchelson-named-interim-chancellor-at-ecu/.
4 https://wcti12.com/news/local/ecu-interim-chancellor-announces-retirement-plans.
5 https://www.wral.com/one-ecu-trustee-resigns-another-censured-for-meddling-in-student-election/18938046/.
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