Former UNC System President and School faculty member Molly Corbett Broad dies at 81

About

As the largest
university-based local
government training,
advisory, and research
organization in the United
States, the School of
Government serves more
than 12,000 public officials
each year.

Browse by Role

The School provides
content and resources for a
wide array of local
government and judicial
officials in North Carolina.

Select your role to explore
all related content.

Browse by Topic

The School provides content
and resources on a wide array
of topics in local government
and judicial administration in
North Carolina.

Select a topic to explore all
related content.

Courses

The School of Government
offers up to 200 courses,
workshops, webinars, and
professional conferences
each year.

Publications

The School of Government
publishes essential books,
manuals, reports, articles,
bulletins, and other print and
online content related to state
and local government.

Blogs

Faculty write for a number
of School of Government
blogs providing timely
updates on emerging issues.

Resources

The School of Government
offers information and
services related to a wide
range of topics relevant to
government and judicial
officials—in-person and on a
variety of platforms.

Blog Posts

Timely updates on emerging issues

Centers and Services

Specialized training/research hubs and consulting services

Frequently Asked Questions

Aggregated answers to common questions on a variety of topics

Knapp Library

Print and online materials and research expertise

Legal Summaries

Brief descriptions of legal cases, bills, or legislative activity

Listservs

Information exchanges for peers and faculty experts

Microsites

In-depth or aggregated content for local government and judicial officials

Tools and Apps

Online and mobile tools for employees on-the-go

Master of Public
Administration Program

The UNC MPA program prepares public service leaders. The program is offered in two formats: on-campus and online.

For more information, visit mpa.unc.edu

Giving

The School of Government depends on private and public support for fulfilling its mission. Your gift will make a lasting impact on the quality of government and civic participation in North Carolina.

Knapp Library

The Joseph Palmer Knapp Library houses a large collection of material on state and local government, public administration, and management to support the School's instructional and research programs and the educational mission of the Master of Public Administration program. Reference and research services are available to all residents of North Carolina, and additional assistance is available to state and local government personnel, both elected and appointed.

A painting of Molly Broad in academic regalia

The UNC School of Government joins those mourning the loss of Molly Corbett Broad, who served as president of the University of North Carolina System from 1997 to 2005. Broad’s family announced her death on January 2, 2023, at the age of 81.

Broad served as a professor of the practice at the School following her tenure as system president. She was the first woman to serve as president of the UNC System, overseeing a $3.1 billion higher education bond and the creation of the state’s first need-based scholarship program, according to a statement from current UNC System President Peter Hans.

“Molly Corbett Broad was a trailblazer and a visionary,” Hans said. “She will be remembered as one of the giants of American higher education. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to work alongside her, and grateful for all she did on behalf of North Carolina.”

In 2008, she was named president of the American Council on Education (ACE), higher education’s chief lobbying group. She was also the first woman to serve in that role. Her career in higher education was extensive: in addition to her work at ACE and in North Carolina, she served in administrative roles at Syracuse University, in the Arizona university system, and in the California State University System.

The School honors Broad’s legacy of committed public service and innovative leadership in North Carolina and beyond.