The UNC System Board of Governors approved Kevin Howell as chancellor at NC State University, confirming media reports from last week.
Howell will succeed Chancellor Randy Woodson, who is retiring this summer after 15 years leading the Raleigh university. 
Howell has worked at NC State and the UNC System for nearly 20 years, including the past year as head of external relations for UNC Health, the Chapel Hill-based healthcare system. He’s the first NC State chancellor who is not a career academic, joining system President Peter Hans, and Chancellors Lee Roberts of UNC Chapel Hill and Darrell Allison of Fayetteville State University among the UNC leaders with non-academic backgrounds.
The Shelby native studied political science at NC State, where he was the first Black student body president. He later earned a law degree from UNC Chapel Hill. He later served as a liaison with the General Assembly for Govs. Jim Hunt and Mike Easley and as a key adviser to former UNC System President Margaret Spellings.
In 2018, he became NC State’s vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development,
“Among an impressive group of candidates, he stood out as the strongest choice. Kevin truly exemplifies the university’s ‘think and do’ spirit — especially in driving economic development and improving the lives of North Carolinians,” said Ed Stack, an NC State trustee who chaired the search committee.
“Kevin Howell is a leader with incredible connection- and relationship-building skills,” says Ed Weisiger, a Charlotte business owner who chairs the NC State board of trustees.
Howell will start on May 5, and receive a $600,000 annual salary.
NC State enrolls about 39,000 students, more than any other UNC System campus.