Suttenfield Ready to Dive Into New Role

"I have plenty of reading to do about some of the current business issues," Nancy Suttenfield wrote in an e-mail to The Daily Tar Heel. "I have also bought some books on the state's history and (UNC's) history to read before I arrive at Carolina."

The Board of Governors approved Suttenfield, vice president of finance and administration at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, for the post Oct. 13. Robert Shelton was named UNC's next provost at the same meeting.

But before packing up for her move down south, Suttenfield must tie up loose ends in her remaining days at Case Western.

"Primarily, I am working to assure a smooth and orderly transition," she wrote. "My leadership team is also very capable of carrying on. All of us worked together to establish a vision and our goals, so there is great ownership of the directions that will continue once I am gone."

Suttenfield will come aboard UNC's crew Nov. 20 at a salary of $235,000. She will oversee the departments of Auxiliary Services, Facilities Services, Human Resources and Finance. The position of vice chancellor for finance and administration has been vacant since June 1999.

Despite leaving her position at Case Western, Suttenfield wrote that she is ready to dive into her new role. "I know that I will find many similarities to (Case Western), but I also anticipate many surprises," she wrote. "I will enjoy learning what makes Carolina distinctive."

Suttenfield has also served in the Virginia Department of Planning and was assistant secretary of finance at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

She wrote that she is very enthusiastic about her upcoming responsibilities. "My first priorities will be to meet people and get to know their hopes, dreams and concerns, and how I can create an environment that enables them to do their best work."

Some of her excitement stems from the fact that she will be part of an all-new administrative team at UNC, along with Shelton and Chancellor James Moeser. "Since all of us are new, we will be learning together," she wrote. "This is an excellent foundation for developing strong teamwork and setting goals."

Suttenfield also wrote that she is looking forward to working with Shelton, who will begin at UNC in February. "He is an excellent choice (as provost). I know him well enough to say that our styles and ways of thinking will be very compatible."

Despite leaving her tightly woven team at Case Western, Suttenfield wrote that her new responsibilities will provide a great sense of achievement. "When I learned about the opportunities to make a difference at Carolina - particularly the chance to help Carolina advance to the next levels of national prominence as part of a new administration team - it was irresistible to me."

Suttenfield wrote that her experience has given her the necessary skills to make a difference at UNC. "I will always be proud of what my team and I have accomplished at (Case Western), but I am now looking forward with great enthusiasm to writing a new chapter in Carolina's history and leading my new team in Chapel Hill."

Daniel Thigpen contributed to this article.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.