The UNC Board of Governors unanimously elected Dr. S. Keith Hargrove as the next Chancellor of Elizabeth City State University. A seasoned academic leader with a distinguished career across three HBCUs, Dr. Hargrove officially assumed his role on June 15, 2025, following the leadership of Interim Chancellor Dr. Catherine Edmonds and former Chancellor Dr. Karrie Dixon.
Dr. Hargrove most recently served as Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Tuskegee University, where he led a university-wide strategic planning process that resulted in increased enrollment, higher graduation rates, and the launch of new programs in aviation and data science.
His appointment follows a national search that drew more than 50 applicants and was led by a diverse committee of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and UNC System leaders.
Prior to his time at Tuskegee, Dr. Hargrove served as:
- Dean of Engineering at Tennessee State University
- Department Chair at Morgan State University
- Professor and faculty member at Tuskegee University
His professional background also includes private sector experience as a manufacturing engineer at General Electric and participation in several executive leadership programs, including the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta and the Harvard Administrative Fellowship Program.
Dr. Hargrove holds:
- A B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee State University
- M.S. in Engineering from Missouri S&T
- Ph.D. in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Iowa
- An MBA from Tennessee State University
- A post-doctoral certificate from the University of Michigan
“Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to advancing student achievement and institutional excellence. I’m excited to lead ECSU with a focus on academic quality, stability, and growth,” Dr. Hargrove shared.
ECSU Board Chair Dr. Stephanie D. Johnson praised his “vision and discipline” and emphasized his potential to elevate the university’s trajectory.
Congratulations to Dr. Hargrove and the ECSU community!