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Feb.
14, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- University
of North Carolina System President Molly Corbett Broad
kicked off a two-day inaugural ceremony at the University
of Kentucky with a convocation address in the Singletary
Center for the Arts. Broad, who has been president
of the UNC system since 1997, was accompanied on stage
by Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton and UK President Lee
T. Todd Jr.
"President
Broad is recognized as a leader in higher education
and is one who truly understands the connection between
higher education and economic development," said UK
Acting Provost Michael T. Nietzel. "She is highly
respected in higher education and was an excellent
choice for a convocation speaker because she has taken
the directions that UK will be taking as it strives
toward its top 20 goal."
As president
of the 16-campus UNC system, Broad heads the oldest
public university in America. The UNC system enrolls
163,000 students and encompasses all of the state's
public institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees.
An economist,
Broad came to UNC from the California State University
system where she served as senior vice chancellor
for administration and finance.
Earlier
in her career, Broad served as an executive officer
for Arizona's three-campus university system and in
a succession of administrative posts at Syracuse University.
In 1976, she took a one-year leave of absence from
Syracuse to serve as deputy director of the New York
State Commission on the Future of Postsecondary Education.
When she returned to Syracuse in 1977, she was named
vice president for government and corporate relations.
During the eight years she held that post, corporate
and foundation giving to the university tripled.
A native
Pennsylvanian, Broad is the daughter of two public
school teachers. She earned a General Motors Scholarship
to Syracuse University where she graduated Phi Beta
Kappa in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in economics.
She holds a master's degree in economics from Ohio
State University.
Other inaugural
activities today include receptions, tours, literature
readings and music. The King Alumni House, Stuckert
Building (Career Center), Lucille Caudill Little Library,
and the UK Art Museum all featured special offerings.
An Inaugural
Gala Concert featuring faculty and students from the
UK Opera Theater and the UK Symphony Orchestra was
held in the afternoon at the Singletary Center.
At 9 p.m.,
an Inaugural Gala was set to begin in the Grand Ballroom
of the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Lexington. More than
1,200 students, faculty and staff and the members
of UK's first family were expected at the semi-formal
event.
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