Kevin Howell

Kevin Howell became North Carolina State University’s 15th chancellor in May 2025. He leads the largest university in North Carolina, with about 39,000 students.

Howell previously served as chief of external affairs for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine. In his role, he developed and implemented strategies shaping public policy and legislation for a health care system with 19 hospitals, more than 900 clinics, 3,000 physicians and more than 40,000 employees.

Howell has a long record of service to North Carolina, the UNC System and NC State University. Prior to his time with UNC Health, Howell acted as NC State’s vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development from 2018 to 2023, and as assistant to the chancellor for external affairs from 2006 to 2016. He was also senior vice president for external affairs with the University of North Carolina System.His work in building and managing relationships and economic partnerships has enhanced both local and global engagement and created new jobs and investments for the state of North Carolina.

A native of Shelby, N.C., Howell received his bachelor’s degree in political science from NC State in 1988 and served as student body president during his senior year. He earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and later served as a legal clerk on the N.C. Court of Appeals.