Remarks by Donald J. Reaves to the UNC Board of Governors
North Carolina A & T State University
February 9, 2007

President Bowles, I want thank you very much for those kind words, and I want to thank you for recommending me to the Board of Governors to be the 12th Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University. 

I also want to thank the members of the Board of Governors for concurring with President Bowles and for the confidence that you have shown in me by confirming me as the 12th Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University. 

I would also like to thank Kevin Myatt and the Winston-Salem State University Board of Trustees for their support throughout this process.  I am looking forward to working with all of you as we strive to take Winston-Salem Sate University to new heights of excellence. 

I have a few briefs remarks that I would like make this morning, but before I do I want to take a couple of minutes and introduce my immediate family which is here with me today. 

My son Marc – Marc lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area.  Marc is a graduate of Cleveland State University with a degree in political science and is in the real estate business.

And our daughter Katherine – we call her Katie after her grandmother; Katie lives in New York City – in Brooklyn to be specific.  She is a legal assistant at a Wall Street law firm, Sullivan and Cromwell.  Katie graduated from Yale University with a degree in political science and this fall will be a law student at the University of Chicago.

And finally Deborah, my wife of almost 34 years, who has been the inspiration for much of what I have accomplished over my career.  She inspired me to go to college and has been tremendously supportive at every juncture.  Deborah is a Ph.D. psychologist who retired after working 20 years in Massachusetts as a clinical psychologist in a school system, moved to Chicago and took another job doing essentially the same thing, and will now be my partner in my effort to serve Winston-Salem Sate University.  Let me tell you she is as excited about this as I am.  

As I was going through the search process I did a lot of research and I learned a lot about the university and about higher education in North Carolina.  One of the things that impressed me about higher education in North Carolina is the extent to which the relationship between higher education and the economy of the State has been clearly defined and articulated.  Recognizing the changes that have and will take place in the economy and educating and preparing young people so that they can contribute to and benefit from the economy is an approach to higher education that I identify with and embrace. 
 
I am particularly happy at being asked to serve an institution that plays such a critical role in the lives of young people.  A first-rate University that provides access to educational opportunities to populations of students, some of whom might otherwise not be able to attend college.   This is a University that provides access and it provides opportunity – access to a high-quality education at an affordable price, and an opportunity to prepare oneself to compete in an ever-changing economy.  I understand how important places like Winston-Salem State University are.  Over the course of my career I have had the opportunity to work at two of the nation’s elite institutions of higher education, but that opportunity was made possible by the access to higher education that was provided by the state system in Ohio – I received a quality education at an affordable price.

With those thoughts in mind, my highest priority as Chancellor will be improving the retention and graduation rates on the Winston-Salem campus.  The university has experienced tremendous growth, which is great.  Getting them enrolled is the critical first step – getting them to graduation is the essential next step.

This afternoon when I speak to the campus community I plan to tell them that I will work tirelessly to make Winston-Salem State University the school-of-choice for generations of students to come, but that I can’t do that alone.  To be successful I will need to engage the faculty in a healthy relationship of shared governance; I need to get to know the students, the staff and the alumni, and I need to reach out to the Winston-Salem Community, broadly defined. 

I look forward with tremendous enthusiasm to joining the UNC family.  The responsibility that you have entrusted to me is enormous, the work is important, and I am fully prepared to do my very best on behalf of Winston-Salem State University and the UNC system of higher education.  Deborah and I and my whole family are absolutely thrilled about this opportunity and we look forward to joining you soon. 

Thank you very much.