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Terry Hutchens

Terry Hutchens, of Fayetteville, NC, began his law practice in 1978 and grew it into a multi-state practice of 250 lawyers and staff, with offices in Cameron, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Hampstead, Sanford, Southern Pines, Southport, and Wilmington, NC, and in Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach, SC. Hutchens is the managing partner of Hutchens Law Firm LLP, and concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, business, creditors' rights, and litigation.

During his 40-year career as a licensed attorney, he has represented large residential and commercial construction companies and provided legal assistance for clients in North and South Carolina (some working in cooperation with federal programs for low-income, elderly, special needs populations). He has tried cases across North Carolina in both the state and federal courts, including bankruptcy court, as well as handled appeals to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.

In step with the state's constitutional mandate that requires the UNC System to provide a college education to students free of expense, as far as practical, Hutchens is committed to ensuring that public dollars are spent, to the fullest extent possible, on education and that spending on administration be limited. To create a sustainable and successful UNC System, he advocates for controlling costs, strategically allocating resources, hiring the right people, and adjusting to market dynamics. He hopes to add his time, effort, and life experiences to pursue a common goal of ensuring that the UNC System provides an affordable, useful education to its students, "while teaching them how to think, not what to think'.

Hutchens is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award the highest civilian honor given by the state. He has also received the American Business Ethics Award, presented by Methodist University and the Foundation for Financial Service Professionals; the Silver Spoon Award, presented by Methodist University School of Business; US News & World Report Best Lawyers in America; and North Carolina Super Lawyers. He is a frequent author and lecturer on default servicing matters at mortgage seminars, on-site training sessions, and bar-sponsored seminars.

Hutchens has held membership and positions on various boards, including the Wake Forest Law School Board of Visitors, Methodist University Board of Trustees, Peace University Board of Trustees, Fayetteville Academy Board of Trustees, North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Twelfth Judicial District (president), North Carolina Creditors Committee, Board of Directors (president), USFN -- Americas Mortgage Banking Attorneys Board of Directors, YMCA of Fayetteville (president), Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (president), Fayetteville Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors (president), North Carolina Board of Transportation, and the North Carolina Board for Economic Development.

He holds a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University, and an MBA and Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University.

Hutchens has been married for 49 years to Rosalind Godwin Hutchens. They have four children -- Hutch, Windy, Joanne, and John Barry.

His advice for today's students:

"You don't need to be perfect. Don't punish yourself because you aren't. Set goals that make you stretch. Celebrate your successes, large and small."