UNC System Taps Provost, Temporarily

Beginning next month Provost Warwick Arden will take on a second job – temporarily – as he steps in as interim senior vice president for academic affairs for the entire UNC system. The current SVP, Suzanne Ortega, is heading to Washington, D.C. to lead the Council of Graduate Schools.

UNC President Tom Ross announced Arden’s appointment at the Board of Governors meeting this month. Arden will serve while a search for Ortega’s permanent replacement is conducted this fall.

“I see this as an important opportunity to assist the UNC system during this transition and deepen my understanding of system-level processes,” the provost said in a prepared statement. “I am honored to be able to serve in this capacity and remain committed to continuing the significant progress we’ve made toward achieving our strategic goals here at NC State.”

Arden said he will spend some time each week at the system headquarters in Chapel Hill, but expects to be on here campus the majority of the time.

The 17-campus UNC system has more than 180,000 students across the state.