UNC-Chapel Hill deans were asked to share their reflections on 2025 and what they’re looking forward to in 2026. From celebrating milestone anniversaries and advancing innovative research to earning national recognition, the deans featured below, who all hold distinguished professorships, are ready to take on 2026 with passion and purpose.
Distinguished professorships are among the University’s most meaningful investments in academic excellence. Supported through private philanthropy, these endowments empower renowned scholars, strengthen research and innovation, and help Carolina attract and retain top academic leaders. When awarded to deans, distinguished professorships offer the flexibility to advance their research and priorities while supporting the evolving needs of their schools.
Learn how these leaders made an impact across campus in 2025 and what inspires them as they look ahead.
Adams School of Dentistry
“This has been an amazing year for Adams School of Dentistry. We celebrated our 75th anniversary, launched a new strategic plan and continued to lead the way in education, patient care, research and service to our community. Our people are the key to our success, and I look forward to seeing what next year will bring for us.”
Janet Guthmiller, Dean
Claude A. Adams Distinguished Professor
School of Education
“In 2025, the UNC School of Education continued to propel the world through innovative research, practice and partnerships. Our faculty earned campus and national honors and secured competitive grants that will advance education and ensure the academic success and well-being of learners across North Carolina and beyond. This year, our K-2 Carolina Community Academy “graduated” its first second graders. That school and our partnership with Person County Schools continues to show us new ways to serve and what an outsized role education can play in a rural community. In 2026, we are excited to welcome students to a new, unique B.A.Ed. in Elementary Education program in the fall and to continue providing excellent academic programs and conducting important research that meets the diverse needs of learners, educators and organizations.”
Jill Hamm, Dean
William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education
School of Information and Library Science
“2025 was an important year as we learned that we would be founding partners in the creation of a new school at Carolina, along with the School of Data Science and Society. Our graduate program ranked No. 3 nationally (U.S. News & World Report), and our faculty earned major support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation.”
Diane Kelly, Interim dean
Wilson Distinguished Professor
School of Law
“Over the past year, Carolina Law continued its trend of excellence, achieving a record-high bar passage rate for first-time takers, strong graduate employment outcomes and its highest-ever ranking — No. 18 among all 194 law schools. At the same time, the school maintained its commitment to access by charging the lowest tuition among the top 20 law schools by a wide margin.”
Andy Hessick, Interim dean
Judge John J. Parker Distinguished Professor of Law
Gillings School of Global Public Health
“In 2025, the Gillings School of Global Public Health continued to show what public health excellence looks like — from Nabarun Dasgupta’s groundbreaking efforts to combat the opioid crisis to faculty discoveries and innovations ranging from malaria-preventing baby wraps to new strategies for cleaning up PFAS forever chemicals. Our students once again achieved remarkable success with 98% finding a job or continuing their education within one year of graduation. Our community remained steadfast in supporting western North Carolina in the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene and, in a year marked by both challenge and opportunity, leaned into science, service and partnership. As we look to 2026, we find our research priorities aligned more closely than ever with national needs, and I’m energized by what we will accomplish together.”
Nancy Messonnier, Dean
Bryson Distinguished Professor
School of Medicine
“I am incredibly proud of our School of Medicine faculty for all that they have accomplished over the last year. In the face of tremendous uncertainty, our faculty doubled down, submitting 15% more proposals this year — often condensing a monthslong process into weeks. Because of their resilience, we closed the year at $641 million in federal research funding, which will translate into discoveries that advance science and accelerate development of innovative treatments to decrease suffering.”
Dr. Samantha Brody, Executive Dean
Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor
Eshelman School of Pharmacy
“2025 has been a year of extraordinary achievement for the school, driven by the passion and talent of our people. We led the nation in external research funding and residency match rates, launched a first-of-its-kind joint Master of Global Medicines Development with Monash University in Australia, and celebrated our PharmD students’ national victory in the Clinical Pharmacy Challenge. Our Asheville campus moved to the Mountain Area Health Education Center, marking an exciting new chapter that further strengthens our commitment to interprofessional education and to western North Carolina. Together, we continue advancing pharmacy research, education and practice to improve health locally and globally.”
Kim L.R.Brouwer, Interim Dean
William R Kenan, Jr, Distinguished Professor
Hussman School of Journalism and Media
“It’s been a year of incredible growth for UNC Hussman. Our students won a seventh consecutive collegiate journalism national championship and earned top accolades in advertising, public relations and design competitions. Graduate students and faculty scholars were recognized for groundbreaking research. We introduced new graduate and certificate programs, creating more pathways for career advancement. We hosted ConvergeCon, which convened industry and academic leaders to explore the implications of AI and emerging trends in media and technology. These milestones, achieved by our dedicated students, faculty and staff, reflect Carolina’s tradition of serving citizens with meaningful impact.”
Raul Reis, Dean
John T. Kerr Distinguished Professor
School of Social Work
“The School of Social Work had a highly productive year marked by innovation and growth, and the year ahead looks just as strong. Our graduate enrollment has risen 95% over four years, and we’re developing a bachelor’s program. Our researchers are on track to secure $70 million in grants and contracts next year, and with $20 million in private and public investment, we’ll help launch a transformative statewide workforce development initiative this spring to address a critical shortage of social workers in North Carolina.”
Ramona Derby-Brinson, Dean
Wallace H. Kuralt, Sr. Distinguished Professor of Public Welfare Policy & Administration
Kenan-Flagler Business School
“UNC Kenan-Flagler created more opportunities to discover the positive power of business by expanding the Undergraduate Business Program and launching the Master of Science in Management. Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited for a new era of connection in Steven D. Bell Hall and innovation with BlueChipAI.”
Mary Margaret Frank, Dean
Distinguished Professor of Accounting
The Graduate School
“In 2025, The Graduate School charted new territory, finding creative ways to support our graduate students and make Carolina the top destination nationally for graduate education. Through our campus-wide Graduate Student Experience Initiative, we published new best practices related to well-being days and working conditions for graduate students, and we advanced training for teaching assistants and faculty mentors. We launched a new graduate research symposium, and we held the first ever Graduate School Community Tour. We also financially supported students through funding gaps, allowing them to continue their research. Looking forward, we are leading cross-campus engagement to position the University for expansion in online program enrollment, growing the impact Carolina graduate students have on our state and beyond.”
Beth Mayer-Davis, Dean
Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Medicine
Read more about what other deans across campus are reflecting on and looking forward to.
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