NC State Chancellor Woodson Named Chairman of APLU Board

NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson has been named to the top board post in the nation’s oldest higher education association, beginning a one-year term as chairman of the board of directors for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

APLU President Peter McPherson announced Woodson’s selection this week at the association’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. Peers at APLU member universities and university systems elected Woodson to the post. Woodson previously served as chair of the APLU Council of Presidents.

“Randy Woodson is an extraordinary chancellor who has taken North Carolina State University to the next level as a public research institution,” McPherson said. “We are delighted that he’s been chosen as the next chair of the board of directors, which will give him an even greater opportunity to shape and strengthen the work of public universities around the country.

“Randy is a dynamic leader who recognizes the important role that public universities play in their state and around the country to improve the quality of life for everyone while educating and training the next generation of leaders.”

In addition to his new chairman role, Woodson will also lead APLU’s Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity (CICEP), where he’ll help promote economic engagement activities among public universities across the country. CICEP helps leaders of its member universities – including presidents and chancellors, senior research officers, provosts, other officers and their staffs – plan, assess, and communicate their institutions’ work in local and regional economic development.

“There has never been a more critical time in the history of public universities,” Woodson said. “Over the next year we are going to be focused on how public universities can continue to be accessible and affordable, as well as how our institutions can drive economic vitality and improve quality of life for the citizens of our states.

“The honor of being elected to serve as chair of the board is really a testament to the outstanding students, faculty and staff at NC State. This role will offer opportunities to even better demonstrate NC State’s leadership in driving improvements in academic excellence, research outcomes, economic prosperity and other critical issues affecting higher education.”

APLU is a research, policy and advocacy organization representing 223 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems and related organizations. Founded in 1887, APLU is the nation’s oldest higher education association with member institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories and Canada. Annually, member campuses enroll 4 million undergraduates and 1.2 million graduate students, award over 1 million degrees, employ over 1 million faculty and staff, and conduct $39 billion in university-based research.

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