Chancellor Emeritus James Moeser to Give Commencement Address

Chancellor Emeritus James Moeser, who served as the ninth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2000-2008, will deliver the keynote address at the School of Dentistry Commencement ceremony.

The annual ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 11 at Carmichael Arena on the UNC campus. The School of Dentistry degree candidates include 76 for the Doctor of Dental Surgery, 34 for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, four for the Certificate in Dental Hygiene, 20 for the Certificate in Dental Assisting, 26 for the Master of Science, and one for the Doctor of Philosophy in Oral Biology.

“We are so honored that our 161 degree and certificate candidates will have their Commencement address given by someone as important to UNC as Chancellor Moeser,” said Dr. Janet Guthmiller, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. “There is no doubt that his message for our graduates will be inspiring and impactful.”

Early in his tenure as chancellor, Moeser was a champion of academic freedom, defending the University from attacks against books chosen for first-year reading assignments in two successive years. In 2003, the Carolina Covenant, a program to provide a debt-free education to students from low income families, became a national model for improving access to higher education. The $2.4 billion Carolina First Campaign, the largest private fund-raising drive by any university in the South, and the fifth largest in U.S. history, created 208 new endowed professorships, and 1,350 scholarships and fellowships.

The Carolina campus underwent a major transformation during his tenure, with over 6,000,000 new square feet of buildings in a $2.2 billion construction program. He supported critical investments in scientific research to move UNC to the very top echelon of U.S. research universities. An early investment in genome research, for example, paved the way for UNC to become one of the major centers of cancer research in the world. He also championed the Carolina Performing Arts program on his watch, which has transformed the cultural life of the entire region.

Since leaving the Chancellor’s Office, Moeser continues his work with UNC as a professor of music and a senior consultant for special initiatives at the UNC Institute for Arts and Humanities.

The University Commencement will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 13 at Kenan Stadium.