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Chancellor Michael Hooker has taken a medical leave of absence and former UNC
system vice president William McCoy has been named interim chancellor as of
April 12.
UNC President Molly Broad named McCoy to the interim post after Hooker's
doctors urged him to take a medical leave of about two months to focus on his
treatment and recovery from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"I wholeheartedly concur with Chancellor Hooker's decision to follow his
physicians' advice to devote his full energy to the treatment necessary to make
a recovery from this disease," Broad said. "We look forward to his return to
office, and in the meantime our aim will be to keep the campus moving forward
on the strategic path Chancellor Hooker has carefully mapped."
Hooker was readmitted to UNC Hospitals on April 8 because of recurring pain
from the chemotherapy he has undergone since being diagnosed in January. Hooker
was listed in good condition on April 12 and was expected to remain in the
hospital for about a week as his doctors modified his treatment regimen,
according to his doctors.
Besides naming McCoy as interim chancellor, Broad appointed UNC President
Emeritus William Friday and Chancellor Emeritus Paul Hardin as senior
advisers.
Broad spent much of April 12 meeting with University administrators, faculty,
staff and students. She explained that McCoy will work with the University's
administrative cabinet to keep the University moving forward. She said Hooker,
while on leave, would retain the lead role in ongoing searches to select new
deans for the schools of law and nursing.
"Carolina is fortunate that Bill McCoy has again agreed to be pressed into
service on behalf of this great University," Broad said. "Bill's vast
administrative experience and love for his alma mater, coupled with the sage
counsel of Bill Friday and Paul Hardin, ensure that UNC-Chapel Hill will be in
good hands."
McCoy has deep ties to the University, having graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1955
with a degree in business administration. He has served on the Board of
Visitors, its Bicentennial Steering Committee, the board of visitors of the
Kenan-Flagler Business School and as chair of the National Development Council.
Since January, he has served on the board of directors of the new UNC Health
Care System.
From 1995 to 1998 he worked at UNC General Administration as vice president
for finance. That came after a 35-year career with the BellSouth Corp., where
he retired as vice chair of the board.
A native of Snow Hill, McCoy earned a master's degree in management from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a Sloan Fellow.
After graduating from Carolina, McCoy served as a pilot in the U.S. Marine
Corps before beginning his business career with Southern Bell in Charlotte.
Progressing through a variety of executive positions with Southern Bell, South
Central Bell and AT&T, McCoy was appointed chief financial
officer-designate of BellSouth when the regional telecommunications company was
formed in 1982. He was elected vice chair of BellSouth Corp. in 1983 and
president of BellSouth Enterprises, Inc., in 1986.
Hooker, in a statement from the hospital, once again thanked the many people
who have supported him through his treatment and said he hopes to return to
work "as soon as possible."
He also thanked McCoy for taking on the task of interim chancellor.
"Bill McCoy has my strongest possible endorsement as he takes on this
important acting role," Hooker said. "He knows what a special place Carolina
is, and I know he will work exceptionally hard on behalf of the University's
people and programs. Bill could ask for no better cabinet with which to work
because we have assembled, in my judgment, the best administrative team in the
country."
McCoy's senior advisors each have long records of service with the
University.
Bill Friday served as UNC president from 1956 to 1986, guiding the University
of North Carolina in its evolution from three to 16 campuses. Since his
retirement from UNC, he has served as executive director of the William R.
Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust in Chapel Hill.
Paul Hardin served as chancellor from 1988 to 1995. Among his accomplishments
were helping Carolina raise a goal-shattering $440 million during its
Bicentennial Campaign.
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