Amid an internal investigation into two former employees’ use of University travel funds, a new fundraising director will step in today to try to move forward.
Julia Grumbles starts today as interim vice chancellor for University advancement.
She replaces Matt Kupec, who resigned Sept. 10 after questions surfaced about his personal use of travel funds with Tami Hansbrough, mother of former UNC basketball star Tyler Hansbrough and a former University major gifts officer.
Grumbles accepted the job on Sept. 18 and was appointed at an emergency Board of Trustees meeting the next day.
“Chancellor (Holden) Thorp called me on Saturday when he was in Louisville for the game … On Tuesday, I was in Dallas standing outside of a restaurant when I accepted the job,” she said.
Grumbles has been at UNC since 2006. She served on the national committee for the Carolina First Campaign, which brought in $2.38 billion from 1999-2007.
“We’re delighted with this appointment,” said Elizabeth Dunn, senior associate vice chancellor for development, in an email. “Julia is well-known and well-respected on campus and among our larger donor community as a volunteer and faculty member.”
Grumbles said she won’t make major changes within the development office. She said despite the recent scandal, the office is not broken.
“What I want to do is immediately get with internal staff, get a better understanding from them on who they’re calling on, how close they are to deals, if they need help,” she said.