UNC Charlotte Names Associate Provost of Urban Research and Community Engagement

Byron White is appointed Associate Provost for Urban Research and Community Engagement beginning August 1, 2020. He will lead the Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement, formerly called Metropolitan Studies.

The Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement will be reorganized to sharpen its focus on connecting UNC Charlotte and the community through research, collaboration, and engaged scholarship that builds a thriving, inclusive region. Goals include enhancing interdisciplinary partnerships to increase access to community-based learning and community-engaged research, streamlining collaboration among shared research, and expanding community partnerships. The Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement comprises four primary units: the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, the Women + Girls Research Alliance, the Charlotte Action Research Project, and Engaged Scholarship.

White joins us from StrivePartnership where he is vice president and executive director of the public-private collaborative focused on cradle-to-career outcomes in urban education. Prior to his work with StrivePartnership, White served as Vice President for University Engagement and as Chief Diversity Officer at Cleveland State University. Formerly, he was Vice Chancellor for Economic Advancement at the Ohio Department of Higher Education and Associate Vice President for Community Engagement at Xavier University following a career at the Chicago Tribune. He received his B.S. degree in journalism from Ohio University, a M.A. in social science from University of Chicago and an Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

White led the successful applications for the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification at both Cleveland State University and Xavier University by facilitating the co-design of strategies to demonstrate alignment of curriculum and research with the changing demands of an urban workforce and civic needs. He also co-developed programs to support engaged scholarship through grants for community-engaged research, training by industry experts, and community recognition.

Provost Joan Lorden said: “White is a transformational and collaborative leader whose unique background demonstrates his commitment and expertise to enhance the University’s research, teaching and service goals through community engagement. We welcome Byron to Niner Nation.”