news-record.com

GREENSBORO — The UNC Board of Governors is expected Friday to select prominent N.C. A&T alumnus Harold Martin as the university’s next chancellor, according to sources close to the process.

Martin, who serves as senior vice president for academic affairs for the UNC system, has been mentioned as a likely candidate throughout the chancellor search.

The Board of Governors will meet on A&T’s campus Friday morning to make official what is reported to be UNC President Erskine Bowles’ choice for chancellor.

According to sources close to the search committee, Martin was the committee’s first choice because of his history with the school and his previous experience as chancellor of Winston-Salem State University from 2000-2006.

Members of A&T’s board of trustees declined to comment Wednesday, citing the confidentiality of the selection process. Bowles’ office also declined to comment.

A&T Chancellor Stanley Battle announced his resignation in February, citing family and personal reasons. Though Battle has refused to talk any more about the resignation, staff and faculty said personality and philosophical clashes might have led to the split.

In the wake of Battle’s departure, students, faculty and staff suggested the new chancellor should be an A&T alum. Martin’s name came up in Aggie forums on campus and after early search committee meetings in March.

Martin, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at A&T, also served as chairman of the electrical engineering department and dean of the school’s college of engineering. He was vice chancellor of academic affairs there until leaving to lead WSSU in 2000.

Martin was previously a candidate for chancellor of A&T but was passed over for James Renick in 1999. Renick left A&T in 2006 before questions surfaced about misuse of public funds. Earlier this year, the Guilford County district attorney decided not to pursue charges in the case.

Martin’s name was often mentioned during the 2006 chancellor search but he stayed in his position at WSSU.

Martin has remained a presence on A&T’s campus at events and alumni functions, according to students and staff at A&T. Word of Martin’s appointment has spread through the campus and alumni communities, faculty and staff said Wednesday, but they had been asked not to comment until the announcement Friday.

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com