Thorp created new vision for planetarium

Before he was UNC chancellor-elect, before he was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Holden Thorp headed a building he once referred to as "the front door of the University" — the Morehead Planetarium.

From 2001 to 2004 Thorp led the planetarium, transforming it from the Morehead Planetarium to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, as it currently is known.

"He made it a place that was vital and relevant again," said Denise Young, planetarium director of education programs. "That hadn't been the case for a very long time."

Young was hired within a year of Thorp's appointment to the post, and she described him as a strong, visionary leader who sought out the opinions of others and gave them the flexibility to experiment, citing a successful theatrical approach to planetarium educational productions which pushed the educational staff to be equally engaging and informative. But she said he often asked probing questions, trying to make sure the advice he was getting was sound and well-considered.

Another of Thorp's early hires, Jeff Hill, agreed, saying Thorp rarely made the same mistake twice.

"His capacity to experiment and learn along the way is a great strength," he said. "He has demonstrated a great capacity for understanding the issues that the University is facing."

When Thorp took over, the planetarium was seen as very inward-facing.

"Holden turned that paradigm around into inclusion," Hill said. "He took what he was a part of and rallied it toward the University mission."

Thorp sought to accomplish a change in the science center's mentality through a series of new hires. Young said he hired professional educators and marketers, decisions that changed the dynamic of the staff.

Though both Hill and Young said they see Thorp as a visionary leader, Hill said his lack of administrative experience showed at times. He said Thorp seemed uncomfortable standing in a room full of potential donors — a sharp contrast from his former roomful of freshman chemistry students.

But Hill said he saw a marked change as Thorp grew into the role.

"The Holden Thorp that I saw deliver his acceptance speech for chancellor was light years removed, in terms of public speaking, from the Holden Thorp I encountered five or six years ago," Hill said.

While Hill and Young watched from within, Todd Boyette, current director of the planetarium, was the CEO of The Health Adventure, a competing science center located in Asheville, while Thorp headed the Morehead Planetarium. The two were professional colleagues, and Boyette first discussed UNC with Thorp before succeeding him as planetarium director.

The expansion of the planetarium's mission to showcase other sciences was impressive, Boyette said, and he was struck by the renewed excitement Thorp brought to the science center community.

"I watched from afar as he led the renewal," Boyette said. "He was breathing new life into the Morehead Planetarium."

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.