Philip Rogers will be ECU’s 12th chancellor
It is hard to believe that it has been just over a year since we began the process of finding the next chancellor of East Carolina University, and it has been a privilege to serve as chair of the Chancellor Search Committee. This was a vitally important decision, and I want to thank the members of the search committee, who represent every possible constituency group of the university, for their tireless work in this effort.
Today, I am thrilled to announce that the committee’s work, now with the approval of UNC System President Peter Hans and the UNC Board of Governors, has resulted in the election of Dr. Philip Rogers as ECU’s 12th chancellor.
The committee sought feedback from a broad range of university stakeholders to identify the qualities needed in ECU’s next leader, including an understanding of the culture of ECU and eastern North Carolina, as well as dedication to our mission of student success, public service and regional transformation. We were committed to finding the perfect person for ECU at this moment in our history — someone dedicated to the principles of access to and affordability of higher education, who could elevate ECU’s reputation and brand, and who could lead efforts for financial sustainability, economic development, health care education, enrollment growth, university governance, and more.
Out of a broad and diverse pool of more than 60 qualified applicants, Philip stood out as that perfect person to lead ECU. He is a Greenville native and a graduate of J.H. Rose High School. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President for Learning and Engagement at the American Council on Education, where he has developed experience in helping institutions navigate the complex challenges of higher education and formed a robust national and global network among the leaders of those institutions.
Philip is also a Pirate; he served as chief of staff and as a member of the senior leadership team here at ECU from 2008-2013, so he knows and has an affinity for our university, our community, our region, and Pirate Nation. He earned his doctoral degree in higher education management with distinction from the University of Pennsylvania, where his research focused on helping public universities navigate periods of financial distress. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from UNC Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Wake Forest University.
In the coming months, he will work closely with Interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson, as well as Dr. Chris Locklear, interim chief of staff, and Trustee Scott Shook, co-chairs of the chancellor transition committee, to prepare for March when he begins his tenure as chancellor.
Dr. Philip Rogers is uniquely qualified to lead our institution into the future, and I would like you to join me in welcoming him, along with his wife, Dr. Rebekah P. Rogers, a two-time ECU alumna, and their boys, Grayson and Dean, back to Greenville and ECU.
For more information about Dr. Rogers and his vision for ECU, visit his welcome story on ECU’s website.
—Vern Davenport
ECU Board of Trustees Chair