Here's how the former UNC-System President Tom Ross and current UNC-System President Margaret Spellings compare:
Compiled by Caroline Metzler and Kelsey Macon
Graphic by Meggie Cruser and Callie Williams
Political Ties
Goals
Stances on Higher Ed Issues
Salary
Professional Career
Professional Roles
Background
Tom Ross and Margaret Spellings
Comparison of UNC-System Presidents
Compiled by Caroline Metzler and Kelsey Macon
Graphic by Meggie Cruser and Callie Williams
Political Ties
Goals
Stances on Higher Ed Issues
Salary
Professional Career
Professional Roles
Background
Tom Ross and Margaret Spellings
Comparison of System Presidents
Home
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Background
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Education: University of Houston, B.A. Political Science
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
Education: Davidson College, B.A. Political Science (1972)
UNC School of Law,
J.D. with honors (1975)
Tom Ross
Home
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Background
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Education: University of Houston, B.A. Political Science
Margaret Spellings
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
Education: Davidson College, B.A. Political Science (1972)
UNC School of Law,
J.D. with honors (1975)
Tom Ross
Tom Ross
Served on the UNCG Board of Visitors
Former chairman on the UNC Greensboro Board of Trustees
Home
Roles on Professional Boards and Organizations
Home
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Roles on Professional Boards and Organizations
Served on the board of directors of the Apollo Education Group, the parent company for the University of Phoenix.
Served on the UNCG Board of Visitors
Former chairman on the UNC Greensboro Board of Trustees
Board chair of the Ceannate Corporation, a student loan collection agency
President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Senior Advisor at U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Margaret Spellings
Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group
Founded Margaret Spellings and Company, an educational consulting firm based in Washington, DC.
Tom Ross
President of the UNC System position from Jan. 1, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2016
President of Davidson College from 2007 to 2010
Executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a group that gives monetary grants to nonprofits, from 2001 to 2007
Director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the courts
N.C. Superior Court judge in Guilford County from 1983 to 1999
Assistant professor of public law and government at the UNC School of Law
Home
Professional Career
Home
President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Senior Advisor at U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Professional Career
Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group
Founded Margaret Spellings and Company, an educational consulting firm based in Washington, DC.
President of the UNC System position from Jan. 1, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2016
President of Davidson College from 2007 to 2010
Executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a group that gives monetary grants to nonprofits, from 2001 to 2007
Director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the courts
N.C. Superior Court judge in Guilford County from 1983 to 1999
Assistant professor of public law and government at the UNC School of Law
Margaret Spellings
Expected: $775,000/year
Tom Ross
Last year of presidency: $600,000
Home
Salary
Home
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Salary
Expected: $775,000/year
Last year of presidency: $600,000
Margaret Spellings
Wants to close the achievement gap among students
Pushed for college affordability, accessibility, and accountability
Tom Ross
Committed to make the UNC system more military friendly
Believed in keeping Elizabeth City State University open despite low enrollment and financial issues
Raised the N.C. tuition system-wide by 8.8 percent in 2012 following budget cuts
Emphasized the need for increased financial aid following tuition hikes
Spearheaded increase college degree attainment in North Carolina and maximize financial efficiency
Home
Stances on Issues Facing Higher Education
Home
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Stances on Issues Facing Higher Education
Wants to close the achievement gap among students
Pushed for college affordability, accessibility, and accountability
Committed to make the UNC system more military friendly
Believed in keeping Elizabeth City State University open despite low enrollment and financial issues
Raised the N.C. tuition system-wide by 8.8 percent in 2012 following budget cuts
Emphasized the need for increased financial aid following tuition hikes
Spearheaded increase college degree attainment in North Carolina and maximize financial efficiency
Margaret Spellings
U.S. Secretary of Education during Bush's second term (2005-2009)
Bush’s domestic policy advisor for Bush's first presidential term (2001-2005)
Bush’s senior advisor during his time as governor (1995-2000)
Director for George W. Bush’s gubernatorial campaign (1994)
Tom Ross
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation gives some grants to liberal causes such as social justice and the environment
Democrat
Home
Political Ties
Home
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Political Ties
U.S. Secretary of Education during Bush's second term (2005-2009)
Bush’s domestic policy advisor for Bush's first presidential term (2001-2005)
Bush’s senior advisor during his time as governor (1995-2000)
Director for George W. Bush’s gubernatorial campaign (1994)
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation gives some grants to liberal causes such as social justice and the environment
Democrat
Margaret Spellings
Work with the legislature for successful budget
Promote good relations with students and faculty
Unite the Board of Governors, currently majority Republican
Tom Ross
Combating economic and budget instability
Reconstructing the UNC System’s efficiency due to 2011 budget cuts that cut 15.6 percent into the budget
Home
Goals Coming Into Office
Home
Margaret Spellings
Tom Ross
Goals Coming Into Office
Work with the legislature for successful budget
Promote good relations with students and faculty
Unite the Board of Governors, currently majority Republican
Combating economic and budget instability
Reconstructing the UNC System’s efficiency due to 2011 budget cuts that cut 15.6 percent into the budget
Compiled by Caroline Metzler and Kelsey Macon
Stances on Higher Ed Issues
Background
Professional Career
Comparison of System Presidents
Goals
Graphic by Meggie Cruser and Callie Williams
Salary
Tom Ross and Margaret Spellings
Political Ties
Professional Roles
Tom Ross
Home
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
Education: Davidson College, B.A. Political Science (1972)
UNC School of Law,J.D. with honors (1975)
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Education: University of Houston, B.A. Political Science
Margaret Spellings
Founded Margaret Spellings and Company, an educational consulting firm based in Washington, DC.
Director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the courts
Senior Advisor at U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group
Executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a group that gives monetary grants to nonprofits, from 2001 to 2007
President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
President of Davidson College from 2007 to 2010
Assistant professor of public law and government at the UNC School of Law
N.C. Superior Court judge in Guilford County from 1983 to 1999
President of the UNC System position from Jan. 1, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2016
Board chair of the Ceannate Corporation, a student loan collection agency
Served on the UNCG Board of Visitors
Former chairman on the UNC Greensboro Board of Trustees
Roles on Professional Boards and Organizations
Served on the board of directors of the Apollo Education Group, the parent company for the University of Phoenix.
Expected: $775,000/year
Last year of presidency: $600,000
Emphasized the need for increased financial aid following tuition hikes
Believed in keeping Elizabeth City State University open despite low enrollment and financial issues
Raised the N.C. tuition system-wide by 8.8 percent in 2012 following budget cuts
Committed to make the UNC system more military friendly
Pushed for college affordability, accessibility, and accountability
Wants to close the achievement gap among students
Stances on Issues Facing Higher Education
Spearheaded increase college degree attainment in North Carolina and maximize financial efficiency
Director for George W. Bush’s gubernatorial campaign (1994)
U.S. Secretary of Education during Bush's second term (2005-2009)
Democrat
Bush’s senior advisor during his time as governor (1995-2000)
Bush’s domestic policy advisor for Bush's first presidential term (2001-2005)
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation gives some grants to liberal causes such as social justice and the environment
Unite the Board of Governors, currently majority Republican
Work with the legislature for successful budget
Goals Coming Into Office
Combating economic and budget instability
Promote good relations with students and faculty
Reconstructing the UNC System’s efficiency due to 2011 budget cuts that cut 15.6 percent into the budget
Comparison of UNC-System Presidents
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
Education: Davidson College, B.A. Political Science (1972)
UNC School of Law,J.D. with honors (1975)
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Education: University of Houston, B.A. Political Science
