This story originally published online at NC Newsline.
North Carolina Central University Chancellor Johnson Akinleye will step down from the university’s top leadership position at the end of this academic year, he told the campus board of trustees in a Friday morning meeting.
His last day will be June 30.
“I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this esteemed university through a period of growth and innovation, a period when the institution was primed for transformative change,” Akinleye said in a message to the campus community.
“I am immensely proud and truly gratified to have worked with very talented executive staff, a supportive Board of Trustees, a dedicated faculty and staff and thousands of caring and dedicated alumni across the nation and worldwide during the past eight-plus years,” Akinleye said in his message.
Akinleye has been at the helm of Durham’s N.C. Central, one of the UNC System’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) since 2017, making him one of the longer-serving leaders in the 16-university UNC System.
His announcement comes after several recent high profile leadership changes at state universities, including two other HBCUs. NC A&T University Chancellor Harold Martin announced he would step down last September and Winston-Salem State University Chancellor Elwood Robinson retired in June of last year. NC A&T is the largest HBCU in the nation while Winston-Salem State is one of the smaller in the system.
Last month UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz’s also announced his move to Michigan State University.
Chancellor searches are currently under way at those three universities under a recently revamped process. A search committee should be announced soon at N.C. Central, beginning the process there.
“Since leading this stellar academic enterprise, we have made tremendous progress and accumulated many accolades,” Akinyele said in his message. “Enrollment is healthy and growing. We have added two new colleges as an outgrowth of an academic realignment, the College of Health and Sciences and the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, to better address the needs of our students and the emerging marketplace.”
NC Central currently serves just under 8,000 students and was listed 11th by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings among the nation’s top HBCUs.
Akinyele said he and his family treasure their years as part of the Central community.
“We take with us very fond memories of an institution that has a rich tradition and legacy and will continue to make great strides in championing education for generations yet to come,” he said in his statement. “We shall continue to cherish and nourish the friendships we have made and our love and passion for this great institution, North Carolina Central University.”
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