Roberts spent 30 years[when?] working in the finance industry. He was[when?] a partner at Cherokee Investment Partners and spent nine years[when?] with Morgan Stanley,where,among other projects,he helped guide financing for the $1.6 billion Africa ONE fiber network,the $2.2 billion Mumbai Trans Harbour Link,and the $5 billion World Trade Center site redevelopment.[4] He then[when?] became managing director of Piedmont Community Bank Holdings.[5] From 2014 to 2016,he was the budget director for then-Governor of North Carolina Pat McCrory,[3] where his office oversaw more than $40 billion in spending.[6] Upon Roberts' departure,McCrory awarded him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.[7]
In 2019,Roberts was appointed to the corporate board of Variety Wholesalers,a retail-store company owned by Art Pope,a prominent conservative donor.[10]
On December 15,2023,the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced that Roberts would succeed then chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz (who left to serve as the 22nd president of Michigan State University) as the interim chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill.[3] Roberts described his motivation as stemming from a "family tradition of public service" and his deep commitment to North Carolina,which he first moved to at age 17.[3]
On August 9,2024,the UNC System Board of Governors appointed Roberts as the 13th chancellor and 31st leader of UNC Chapel Hill after serving 7 months as interim chancellor.
Response to appointment
The selection process for Roberts' appointment faced criticism from members of the student body.[14][15]
Lee Roberts (right) makes an impromptu appearance at the TransparUNCy Teach-in:Part 2 on April 4th,2024.
On January 12,2024,a coalition of student groups published an op-ed titled "UNC deserves better,Lee Roberts ain't it" on the university's student newspaper The Daily Tar Heel. The article highlighted Roberts' lack of experience in educational administration and actions during his tenure as state budget director that were perceived as contrary to the interests of higher education and inclusivity.[14]
A month later,in February 2024,another op-ed was published by five UNC students titled "'Nonpartisan' Lee Roberts receives income from far-right megadonor's company" highlighting a conflict between his claimed commitment nonpartisanship and his financial ties to conservative donor Art Pope.[16] Following this publication,Roberts stated in an interview that he would not be taking income from his board position on Art Pope's company Variety Wholesalers during his time as interim chancellor,and that serving on a corporate board has no bearing on his nonpartisanship.[10]
In early April 2024,a student group was formed in opposition to Roberts' chancellorship,TransparUNCy.[17] Alexander Denza,a UNC student activist and TransparUNCy organizer,questioned the motivations behind accelerated timeline of the search,which was initially expected to conclude by the end of the year.[18] At a TransparUNCy meeting session in April 2024,Roberts made an appearance where he reaffirmed his commitment to nonpartisanship to the crowd.[19][20]
On May 11 during the 2024 spring commencement ceremony,students walked towards the stage holding Palestinian flags and were escorted out by the police.[21][22] During the ceremony,a Pro-Palestine student-led protest occurred at the South Building on Campus. One student leader said the protest was "to commemorate suspended seniors who were involved in the Triangle Gaza Solidarity Encampment."[21] As part of this protest,red paint was poured on the steps of the South Building and red handprints were pressed on the outside of the building.[21] A handwritten poster on the doors of the south building contained the words," On a monumental &historic day,our chancellor has shown his true colors. Rather than support the student body,he supports genocide."[23] In response to the protests,Roberts said "We not only support student protest,we actively encourage it." and followed asking those involved to refrain from vandalising buildings and harassing other students.[24] During protests on campus,demonstrators later withdrew their earlier agreement to adhere to University policies.[22]
Faculty members also expressed concerns regarding his chancellorship. Sue Estroff,a member of the UNC Faculty Executive Committee,stated weeks before the official appointment of Roberts,"I fear that the chancellor search is already over,and I don't have a lot of confidence in the process."[18] Nearly 900 faculty and staff members addressed a joint letter to administrators criticizing the "militarized and unsafe climate" on campus.[25]
During chancellorship
As chancellor,Roberts has identified four main priorities:enrollment growth,campus master planning,applied sciences,and artificial intelligence. He has led initiatives to expand student enrollment and advance development of Carolina North,a 250-acre site for new academic and athletic facilities.[26]
Faculty members interviewed by The Assembly,including both those who have worked directly with Roberts and outside observers,have said Roberts has shown an ability to manage the varied interests of higher education and a readiness to listen to differing perspectives.[27] Roberts's leadership style has been characterized as steady and business-focused,with a goal of positioning UNC–Chapel Hill among the nation's leading public universities.[26]
On December 9,2024,8-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and responded to rumors he was being considered for the UNC head coaching job:"I've had the opportunity to talk to Chancellor Roberts,and we've had a couple of good conversations. So we'll see how it goes."[28] Two days later on December 11,2024,Roberts and Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham announced that Belichick had been hired on a five-year contract. Speaking to WUNC,Board of Trustees member Jennifer Lloyd said of Roberts,"He has shown bold leadership. This was his process,at the end of the day,working closely with Bubba and other members of the committee... but Chancellor Roberts deserves virtually all of the credit,ultimately,for taking this risk and making this commitment."[29]
On January 24,2025,early in the second Trump administration,Roberts attended a Faculty Council Meeting at which he was asked by Allison Schlobohm (then-clinical associate professor of management and corporate communication at the UNC business school) how the university would respond to changes in immigration law. "I would just like to know," Schlobohm said,"if we're asked to identify undocumented students,what will we say?" Roberts replied:"If we're asked by law enforcement,we're going to comply with any requests from law enforcement about that or anything else."[30][31]
On February 5,2025,Approximately 150 students and staff gathered to protest Roberts' response to the question outside of the South Building. The protest was organized,in part,by TransparUNCy. It featured music and cultural heritage celebrations from Mexico and Central America.[32]
In 2025,the University announced plans to reduce approximately $70 million in expenses (roughly 2 percent of its operating budget) over the next two fiscal years in anticipation of decreased federal and state funding.[33]
Personal life
Lee H. Roberts is married to Liza Roberts,a journalist and founding editor of Walter Magazine,a monthly publication based in Raleigh,North Carolina.[34] The couple met in 1985 when they were both Congressional pages and got married in 1997.[35] They have three children together.[36]
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