Media Contact:
Keith Nichols, News Services, 919/515-3470

April 29, 2005

NC State’s New Chancellor Continues Statewide Tour in Charlotte

The new chancellor of North Carolina State University, Dr. James L. Oblinger, will visit Charlotte on Monday and Tuesday, May 2-3, to continue his series of visits across the state, meeting with citizens and community leaders and reaffirming NC State’s commitment to responding to the needs of North Carolinians.

Oblinger will begin his trip to the Queen City with an alumni reception on Monday night. On Tuesday, he will attend a breakfast with members of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce at the Hilton Executive Park, located at the intersection of Interstate 77 and Tyvola Road. Media coverage of the breakfast is invited.

Oblinger will conclude his visit with a private reception hosted by UNC Charlotte Chancellor Jim Woodward on Tuesday evening.

Oblinger became NC State’s 13th chancellor on Jan. 1 after serving in various capacities at the university for nearly 20 years. Prior to being named chancellor, he was NC State’s provost and executive vice chancellor, where he was responsible for advancing the university’s academic mission and setting the university’s academic agenda. Before being named provost in May 2003, Oblinger served as dean and executive director for agricultural programs of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at NC State from 1997 to 2003. He assumed those duties after serving as associate dean and director of academic programs for CALS from 1986 to 1997. He is also a tenured professor in the Department of Food Science.

Earlier this year, Oblinger visited Fayetteville, Greenville, Havelock, Morehead City, New Bern, Wilmington and Wilson. Future visits are planned for other regions of the state.

During the tour, the chancellor will visit with alumni, community groups, high school students, local government leaders, civic organizations and business groups. Oblinger will also tour businesses, farms and industries that have benefited from research and outreach programs at NC State. The tour across the state continues an NC State tradition of being responsive to the people of North Carolina by listening to their needs and sharing the NC State story.

“NC State is a community shaped by the people of North Carolina,” Oblinger said. “Our faculty, staff and students are united by a passion for knowledge and innovation, and for applying that knowledge in relevant, responsive ways that benefit our state and society. It’s an attitude and practice I think of as ‘innovation in action.’”

Oblinger added that “innovation in action” begins with listening to the needs of North Carolinians, then putting acquired knowledge to work in real-world ways that improve the state’s education, economy and quality of life.

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