Med School Dean Bill Roper to take over as UNC System interim president

By Mitra Norowzi    

UNC System President Margaret Spellings shocked the university community last week when she announced her plan to resign from her position. Spellings had two years left in her three year contract.

The Board of Governors announced Thursday that Dr. Bill Roper will serve as Interim President. The Board said Roper, currently CEO of UNC Healthcare and Dean of the UNC School of Medicine, has years of managing large organizations — making him a uniquely qualified candidate for the job. 

Spellings will officially exit office on January 15, but Roper will begin as interim president two weeks before that on January 1.