Chancellor Elwood Robinson announces retirement after eight years
RALEIGH – University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans has appointed an interim chancellor to succeed Winston-Salem State University Chancellor Elwood Robinson, who will retire at the end of the semester after eight years.
Anthony Graham, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Winston-Salem State, will become interim chancellor, effective July 1, succeeding Robinson, who announced his retirement Monday. Robinson will work closely with Graham throughout the spring semester to transition leadership.
Graham has been the chief academic officer at Winston-Salem State since 2018. Previously, he was dean of the College of Education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He was also a professor of educator preparation at North Carolina A&T and chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction there. He began his career as a high school teacher.
“Dr. Graham is a respected educator and seasoned academic leader whose research has focused on student success,” Hans said. “I know he has the commitment and skills to lead Winston-Salem State through a smooth transition.”
A native of Kinston, N.C., Graham earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in education and doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Since 2015, Robinson has led Winston-Salem State as its 13th chancellor. During his tenure the university’s endowment grew to more than $100 million and the university completed $145 million in capital projects, including major renovations, two new residence halls and a new science building.
“Chancellor Robinson has provided steady leadership for Winston-Salem State, including noteworthy achievements such as a new center for entrepreneurship, a record $30 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, and strong rankings in economic and social mobility for the university’s graduates,” Hans said. “I know all Rams join me in thanking him for his dedicated service to the campus and the state.”
A search for the next chancellor of Winston-Salem State will be launched later this year.
About The University of North Carolina System
The University of North Carolina System enrolls 240,000 students at 17 institutions, including the state’s 16 public universities and the nation’s first public residential high school for academically gifted students. The UNC System is among the strongest and most diverse higher education systems in the country, with more than $1.8 billion in research expenditures and campuses that serve every region of the state. Affiliate organizations include UNC Health and PBS North Carolina, with its 12-station broadcast network.