Classes are beginning for many schools and universities across North Carolina. Lee Roberts has started his first year as well after being tapped as UNC Chapel Hill’s latest chancellor.

Students at UNC Chapel Hill moved into their dormitories on Friday and will head to class this week to start of a new semester.

What You Need To Know

  • UNC Chapel Hill welcomed nearly 5,000 new first-year students for its 230th academic year
  • Students say they’re excited to pursue their education and see what activities are happening on campus

“I’m excited and nervous,” Tiffany Taylor, a mother of one UNC Chapel Hill student, said.

Taylor uses these words to express her emotions as she sends her son, Darrin, to his sophomore year at UNC Chapel Hill.

“It’s my heart beating outside of my chest,” Taylor said.

Tiffany Taylor mentioned Darrin is her oldest of six kids and he always surprises her. 

She said her 19-year-old has already earned his associate’s degree at an early college high school before being accepted at UNC.

Darrin Taylor said it was the energy and atmosphere that drew him to the Chapel Hill campus

“It just seems like an all-around good place to pursue my education,” Darrin Taylor said.

In spite of the university’s recent major tragedies, including student suicides and the unfortunate incident of a professor being shot and killed on campus, with a graduate student being accused in his death, it did not dissuade him.

Darrin said he will do his part within the school’s community to check on his classmates as they navigate through their personal lives and their studies.

“I’ll be mindful to check in on people,” Darrin Taylor said.

As far as having a new chancellor, Darrin said he is interested to see what improvements will come to the university while he’s there.

“I’m just interested to see what’s going to happen on campus, as far as the changes on campus- if there will be any,” Darrin said.

UNC Chapel Hill chancellor Lee Roberts said he is grateful to be at the university and is looking forward to doing just what Darrin hinted at — improving the campus for all.

“I’m excited to play my part and making this an exceptional year. It’s our 230th academic year who wouldn’t be excited about that,” Roberts said. He will serve as the university’s 13th chancellor.

Roberts’ leadership at UNC was evident during tense campus protests against the war in Gaza, with several arrests made.

In January, Kevin Guskiewicz, the former chancellor, departed from his position to become the president of Michigan State University.