Monday, March 24, 2003

CHAPEL HILL – Michelle Howard-Vital, vice chancellor for public service and continuing studies and associate provost at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, has been named associate vice president for academic affairs for the 16-campus University of North Carolina. The appointment, effective July 1, was approved (March 21) by the UNC Board of Governors on the recommendation of UNC President Molly Corbett Broad. In her new role, Howard-Vital will be responsible for working on the development of academic programs and continuing UNC’s emphasis on quality education from K-16.

“Dr. Howard-Vital brings enthusiasm and experience to the position, as well as an expansive view of education for both traditional and non-traditional learners,” said Gretchen Bataille, UNC senior vice president for academic affairs. “She has experience in using new technologies and in reaching diverse audiences that will serve her well in her academic-planning responsibilities for our 16 campuses.”

A native of Chicago, Howard-Vital holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English language and literature from the University of Chicago. She earned a doctoral degree in public policy analysis specializing in education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to joining the UNCW staff in October 1993, Howard-Vital served as associate vice president for academic programs and dean of university college at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania.

During her tenure at UNCW, the Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies has expanded and clarified its role to stimulate positive social action in the region. Its staff has nearly doubled to 31, and grant revenue has increased. It opened the Executive Development Center at the Northeast New Hanover County Library at Landfall and stimulates economic development by providing quality, high-tech meeting space. UNCW-TV has developed and matured, and, along with its partners, manages The Learning Network (TLN) broadcast on Time Warner Cable Channel 5 and Charter Communication Channel 12.

Division staff have presented papers regionally, nationally, and internationally and won numerous local, state, and regional awards. The division has initiated a development effort, and divisionally sponsored leadership programs such as Leadership Wilmington and the Adult Scholars Leadership Program have continued to attract newcomers and retirees seeking to become engaged in the region.

Dr. Howard-Vital has served since 2001 on the State Board of Education as an appointee of Gov. Mike Easley. Locally, she has served on numerous boards, including a two-year stint as chair of the Cape Fear American Red Cross.

"I am proud of Michelle and what she and her staff have accomplished here at UNCW,” said Chancellor James R. Leutze. “She will be a wonderful asset to the academic team in the Office of the President, and we wish her luck in her future efforts.”

The oldest public university in America, the University of North Carolina today encompasses all 16 of North Carolina’s public institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees and enrolls 177,000 students. UNC campuses support a broad array of distinguished liberal-arts programs, two medical schools and one teaching hospital, two law schools, a veterinary school, a school of pharmacy, ten nursing programs, 15 schools of education, three schools of engineering, and a specialized school for performing artists. Also under the university umbrella are the UNC Center for Public Television with its 11-station statewide broadcast network, and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, the nation’s first public residential high school for gifted students.