Planetarium seeks new star to lead program

The search for a new head of the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center — which defines the UNC experience for thousands of North Carolinians — is full steam ahead.

The position is one of the most high-profile at UNC, said Interim Director Jeff Hill, who served as director of marketing and business ventures for the planetarium.

The facility — which has an annual budget reaching $2 million — draws in more visitors than any other UNC attraction, excepting athletic events. It pulled in schoolchildren from three-quarters of the state’s 100 counties last year.

“We served 135,000 to 140,000 North Carolinians (this year): 70 percent of them have no other connection to UNC other than attending shows,” Hill said. “This is what they know about UNC-Chapel Hill.”

Members of the search committee met Tuesday to discuss strategies to publicize the position and to revise the official job description.

“This is a real opportunity for an unconventional candidate,” said Chuck Lovelace, executive director of the John Motley Morehead Foundation.

Members of the committee said that the candidates must embody a combination of entrepreneurial know-how and academic prowess but that the right balance between the two is open for discussion.

“They have to be able to speak in a way that would not make us all cringe,” said Laurie McNeil, chairwoman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Other members acknowledged this need but stressed the importance of casting the broadest net over the sea of potential applicants. The committee is considering hiring a private search firm to reach candidates from outside academia.

Holden Thorp, the planetarium’s previous director, stepped down from the position to become the chairman of UNC’s Department of Chemistry, effective July 1.

Under Thorp’s watch, the planetarium saw attendance increase by 40 percent. Thorp counts an increased emphasis on the science center and more undergraduate involvement at the planetarium among his accomplishments.

“It’s hard for me to imagine that there’s anyone in this business who would not want this job,” Thorp said. He also said his successor should have the desire to educate schoolchildren and mentor undergraduates and the ability to work well in a business setting.

While no definite timetable for the selection process has been set, leaders said they hope to have finalists visit the University by the end of summer. Officials aim to fill the position by the end of the calendar year.

“This is a very important position in the University — definitely part of the fabric of the University,” said Carol Tresolini, associate provost for academic initiatives, who helped put together the search committee.

“He or she will have to hit the ground running.”

 

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