UNC Board of Governors elects all-female officer group in historical first

The UNC System Board of Governors elected a team of all-female officers for the first time in its history, who began their terms today.

The BOG elects three Board Officers — a chair, vice chair and secretary — to serve for two-year terms beginning on July 1 of even-numbered years. In their May 23 meeting, the board unanimously elected Chair Wendy Floyd Murphy, Vice Chair Kellie Hunt Blue and Secretary Pearl Burris-Floyd.

Chair Wendy Floyd Murphy

Murphy, a former teacher with experience in elementary education and business, has served on the board since 2017. Prior to her appointment to the Board of Governors, Murphy was a member of the UNC Wilmington Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2015. 

“This is a tremendous honor and I’m looking forward to continuing our good work,” Murphy said at the meeting, following her election.

Murphy is also a member of Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW — UNCW’s fundraising campaign — as part of the Campaign Executive Cabinet and serves on the Harrells Christian Academy’s Board of Trustees. 

In addition to her work in public service, Murphy is involved in the hospitality segment of Murphy Family Ventures, a management company that runs various businesses which was created by her husband, Wendell "Dell" Murphy Jr., in 2004. She is related by marriage to Wendell Murphy, N.C. State supporter and donor who has endowed multiple scholarships and is the namesake of the N.C. State football operations center.

As a former teacher, Murphy said she believes in the importance of a strong foundation in education and that the schools of education in the University system must do all they can to prepare future teachers to educate the next generation.

Vice Chair Kellie Hunt Blue

Blue has a background in budgeting, fiscal responsibility and strategic planning. She previously worked in financial departments in both the private and public sectors and is former chair of the UNC Pembroke Board of Trustees. 

Blue currently serves as county manager for Robeson County and is a member of the Civic Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, the Governmental Finance Officers Association and the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government Foundation Board. 

During her time on the BOG, Blue’s focus has been on promoting the accessibility and affordability of higher education to all students in North Carolina. 

Secretary Pearl Burris-Floyd

Burris-Floyd holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in health administration. She has previously worked as a cancer detection specialist and held various administrative health care positions.

Throughout her time as a public servant, Burris-Floyd has specialized in providing leadership on health issues, particularly those pertaining to mental and behavioral care. 

In addition to her role on the BOG, Burris-Floyd is chief government affairs officer at Partners Behavioral Health and president and CEO of Hidden Gemstones Consulting, LLC. She is also an ordained minister, chair of the Board of Trustees at First Baptist Church in Dallas, N.C. and a motivational speaker.

The board

The Daily Tar Heel reached out to the BOG through email, the UNC System office through phone and Andy Wallace, the director of UNC System Media Relations, about the elections, but received no comment about the situation. 

The new officers expressed their thanks for their colleagues' votes of confidence and applauded now-former Chair Randall Ramsey for his leadership at the May 23 meeting.

Following the election, board member Reggie Holley addressed the board to recognize the significance of the moment in UNC System history. 

“I don’t know that there’s ever been a time in the history of our University System that we’ve had three dynamic women leading at the helm,” Holley said. 

The election of the first ever all-female officer team of the BOG occurred at the same meeting during which the board voted to repeal previous diversity, equity and inclusion requirements.

During the May 23 meeting, Ramsey referenced an article about the BOG's decisions about DEI, saying that he appreciated Holley's comment.

“I’m hoping that the person that wrote the article in the news in the Charlotte Observer yesterday about the diversity of our board might take note of the diversity of our leadership,” Ramsey said.

The next BOG meeting will take place July 24-25 at the UNC System Office in Raleigh and can be viewed on PBS NC livestream.

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