Bowles, an investment banker from Charlotte, is elected president of the UNC System. The guiding message of Bowles’ presidency is “Low tuition without high-quality education is no bargain for anyone.” He puts this into practice by keeping tuition low, cutting costs, and strengthening the university’s focus on serving the needs of the state. Bowles’ fiscal acumen is especially critical in navigating the university through the Great Recession during which he maintained a laser focus on preserving funding for the university’s core mission. He serves as president from 2005 to 2011.
Born and raised in Greensboro, Erskine Bowles graduated from UNC and received his M.B.A. from Columbia University in New York. His storied career includes service in the U.S. Coast Guard, work in investment banking and venture capital, and public service as part of President Bill Clinton’s administration. In 1991, Bowles worked as administrator of Clinton’s Small Business Administration. In 1993, he moved to the White House to work as deputy chief of staff and later chief of staff. He also served as a member of the president’s cabinet, the National Security Council, and the National Economic Council.