Dr. Karrie G. Dixon serves as the 13th chancellor of North Carolina Central University, assuming the role on July 1, 2024, following her election by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. A seasoned higher education leader within the UNC System, Dr. Dixon leads NCCU with a vision that continues to inspire and shape the future of higher education. She is recognized for her commitment to student success, academic excellence, and institutional transformation.

Prior to joining North Carolina Central University, Dr. Dixon served as the 12th chief executive officer and 7th chancellor of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), where she first held the role in an interim capacity beginning in 2018. She played a pivotal role in ECSU’s strategic turnaround and growth, building on earlier work as co-lead of the university’s New Directions initiative. Notably, she is the first woman to serve as chancellor at two institutions within the UNC System.

Dr. Dixon previously served as Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs for the UNC System, where she provided leadership across all 17 constituent institutions. In this role, she guided academic policy, strengthened student success initiatives, and advanced partnerships with the North Carolina Community College System, independent institutions, and the Department of Public Instruction. Dixon led key statewide initiatives, including CFNC Pathways and the NC State Approving Agency, and championed efforts to enhance transfer pathways, enrollment, campus safety, and support for military-affiliated students.

An active and respected leader in higher education, Dr. Dixon serves on the Research Triangle Foundation and the Board of Directors for Project Kitty Hawk and is a charter member of the Black Women Collegiate Presidents and Chancellors. Her previous service includes appointments to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees, the AASCU Board of Directors, and the AGB Council of Presidents, among others.

Dr. Dixon’s contributions have been widely recognized through numerous honors, including the Old North State Award, the William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognition as one of the “Power 50 Women of Influence” by the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. She has also been named among the “Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders” and recognized by multiple organizations for her leadership, service, and impact.

A dedicated educator, Dr. Dixon is a Professor of Higher Education at North Carolina Central University. She holds bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is also a proud mother of two daughters.