Kevin Howell

Kevin D. Howell is a law and political science graduate who has served in a number of leadership positions in the U.S. state of North Carolina. He was sworn in as the 15th chancellor of North Carolina State University (NCSU) on May 5, 2025, replacing the previous chancellor of fifteen years Randy Woodson. His assumption to the role marks the first black chancellor and first chancellor to not have served an academia career in the university's history.

Howell was born in Shelby, North Carolina. He graduated NCSU with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1988, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Juris Doctor in law in 1992. After working as a liaison for the North Carolina General Assembly under the state governors Jim Hunt and Mike Easley, Howell returned to work for NCSU in 2006 as the Assistant to the Chancellor for External Affairs. After a brief departure from the university in 2024, Howell returned nearly a year later to assume the role as chancellor, after being nominated by the UNC System President Peter Hans. In a statement, Hans stated he supported the nomination of Howell as he believed he could handle the ongoing scandals regarding cancer-causing Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) discovered on campus, potential cuts to research spending under the second presidency of Donald Trump, and other challenges upon taking office. According to a report by the university's student newspaper Technician, much of the student body positively regards Howell.