Somers appointed to newly created vice chancellor for public affairs post

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has named Clayton Somers, a longtime North Carolina attorney, executive leader and state government official, to the new position of vice chancellor of public affairs and secretary of the university.

A Carolina alumnus, Somers started work today (Jan. 9). The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved his appointment. The position was approved by the UNC Board of Governors. He reports to Chancellor Carol L. Folt and brings a wealth of public policy, government, executive board relations and legal experience on complex governance and compliance issues to Carolina. Somers spent the past two years as chief of staff to the North Carolina Speaker of the House, providing counsel on legislative and legal issues to members of the House of Representatives in the General Assembly.

“I am pleased to add a highly skilled professional of Clayton Somers’ caliber to our senior leadership team,” Folt said. “The diverse range of Clayton’s public affairs and business experience, combined with his unique knowledge of the General Assembly and state government, will be a tremendous asset as we assess the University’s future needs and vital role in serving North Carolinians. He also brings an important perspective to our relationship with the federal government, which supports and shapes the vast majority of the faculty’s life-changing research – a nearly $1 billion annual enterprise.”

Read more at UNC Spotlights.