Carolina Law’s Kevin Howell ’92 Named Chancellor of NC State 

Carolina Law celebrates 1992 graduate, Kevin Howell, named NC State University’s 15th chancellor on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. The UNC System Board of Governors confirmed his appointment Tuesday, recognizing his distinguished career in public service and higher education leadership.  

“Kevin and I were classmates in the fabled class of 1992 at UNC Law school. We have remained close friends across our respective careers.” said Dean Martin H. Brinkley ’92. “There is no colleague in North Carolina, for whom I have greater respect, or for that matter, greater affection. Kevin will be a brilliant chancellor. It is a joy for us at UNC Law school to contribute something back to NC State, which has sent us so many outstanding students and leaders over the decades.” 

Howell — selected from over 75 candidates in a national search — will assume the role of Chancellor on May 5. He is the third NCSU graduate to lead the university, and first Black chancellor in the university’s history.   

Throughout his career, Howell has leveraged his legal training to achieve increasingly influential public service positions. After earning his law degree, he clerked for the N.C. Court of Appeals, served as legislative liaison for two North Carolina governors and directed governmental affairs for the N.C. Bar Association before transitioning to university administration leadership roles.  He served as senior vice president for external affairs at the UNC System Office from 2016 to 2018, served NC State as vice chancellor for external affairs from 2018 to 2023, and currently leads external affairs for UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine while maintaining his connection to our school through service on the UNC Law School Foundation board. 

Carolina Law congratulates Howell on this significant achievement and looks forward to witnessing the impact his leadership will have on higher education in North Carolina.