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Chancellor Thorp reaches out to campus leaders on first day; secures trustee gift for innovative creative writing course

PHOTO: Thorp chats with Anna Roberts, a women's softball team member and among more than 30 student leaders participating in today's welcome breakfast at the Campus Y.Thorp chats with Anna Roberts, a women's softball team member and among more than 30 student leaders participating in today's welcome breakfast at the Campus Y.
Chancellor Holden Thorp spent his first day in office, July 1, getting to know student leaders over breakfast, convening his cabinet and meeting with top faculty and staff leaders. He also has secured the first major private gifts of his tenure from a University trustee that will enable creative writing students to study with some of the nation’s most notable writers.

Thorp, a Carolina alumnus and Fayetteville native, has spent the past 15 years at UNC-Chapel Hill as a faculty member and administrator. Since his unanimous election by the UNC Board of Governors in May, Thorp, as chancellor-elect, has been preparing for tomorrow’s transition while carrying out his duties as dean of UNC's College of Arts and Sciences. Today, Thorp officially succeeded James Moeser, who had held the post since August 2000.

PHOTO: Okwae Miller, right, makes a point with Thorp. Alan Liu, left, and Stephanie Liu, right, listen.Okwae Miller, right, makes a point with Thorp. Alan Liu, left, and Stephanie Liu, right, listen.

Thorp began his work today with a welcome breakfast at the Campus Y lounge with student leaders being organized by Student Body President J.J. Raynor. The gathering was an informal opportunity for Thorp to get to know some of the student leaders with whom he will work during the upcoming academic year. Attendees included representatives from a broad range of groups reflecting the interests of undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

PHOTO: Thorp walks in a South Building conference room to convene his first meeting of the Chancellor's Cabinet.Thorp walks in a South Building conference room to convene his first meeting of the Chancellor's Cabinet.

Thorp also convened the first meeting of his Chancellor's Cabinet – the vice chancellors, the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine and other top senior administrators – and will have one-on-one conversations with Faculty Chair Joe Templeton and Employee Forum Chair Tommy Griffin.

Trustee gift to fund creative writing class
After Thorp's morning meeting with University Trustee Sallie Shuping-Russell, Carolina has announced her gift to fund an innovative new course featuring the work of active writers who will hold a distinguished visiting professorship within the Creative Writing Program. The program is part of the Department of English and Comparative Literature in the College of Arts and Sciences. The $666,000 gift qualifies for a $334,000 grant from the North Carolina Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust, bringing its total value to $1 million. The state fund, established in 1985 by the N.C. General Assembly, provides matching grants to recruit and retain outstanding faculty. (For more details about the gift, click here.)

On Wednesday and Thursday, July 2-3, Thorp's activities will include starting a series of meetings on campus with Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Bernadette Gray-Little and the deans of the University's graduate and professional schools. These sessions will launch Thorp’s efforts to gather information and listen to the University's academic leaders and faculty discuss Carolina's future. He will have lunch on Wednesday with Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy at Sutton’s on Franklin Street. On Thursday, Thorp will have lunch with Orange County Commissioners Chair Barry Jacobs in Hillsborough.

PHOTO: John Woodard, left, owner and pharmacist at Sutton's Drug Store, with Thorp, center, and Mayor Kevin Foy on July 2.John Woodard, left, owner and pharmacist at Sutton's Drug Store, with Thorp, center, and Mayor Kevin Foy on July 2.

Thorp will be formally installed as chancellor in October, and the occasion will mark his first major speech to the University community.