It’s Official: ECSU’s Robert Boone Named UNC System Presidential Scholar

It’s official. Robert Boone is a University of North Carolina System Presidential Scholar.

The UNC System Office in Chapel Hill announced this week that the graduating senior will serve as a Presidential Scholar in the office of System Interim President William Roper.

Boone, whose long-term plan is to become a top university administrator, has been waiting for the official announcement since earlier this spring.

“I’m excited to be able to come from Elizabeth City State University to the system office in this capacity,” said Boone, who sees this as an opportunity to pave the way for future Vikings to serve as scholars.

Boone says he has been researching the opportunity to be a Presidential Scholar for the past two years. He says that, based on his aspirations to work in higher education as an administrator, this program is a good fit for him.

“I’m hoping to get insight on how the system works to support 17 campuses,” Boone, a business administration major, said.

According to the UNC System website, this is a one-year, paid appointment for system graduates to serve at The UNC System Office in Chapel Hill under the UNC System President.

The Presidential Scholars will take on a variety of projects throughout the year, honing their professional skills and gaining real working experience.

ECSU’s Special Assistant to the Chancellor, Carson Rich, was a Presidential Scholar who came to ECSU during the Phase 2 Working Group project to assist now Chancellor Karrie Dixon, who was then a top system administrator. Rich’s experience led to a permanent position at ECSU, and this is just the sort of experience Robert Boone hopes will move him forward on his journey through higher education.

Boone says that once he finishes his time as a Presidential Scholar, he hopes to earn his master’s degree in public administration from N.C. State. He says that he hopes to find his way into a doctoral program, leading him to his dream of higher education administration.

Boone’s experience at ECSU so far has taken him through the gamut of campus leadership. He’s been an active participant in the Student Government Association, and served on various committees including homecoming and Viking Fest.

Most recently, Boone found valuable experience working as an intern with public school students to implement a Student Government Association for Bertie County Schools.

“I was tasked with implementing a Student Government Association in the district. My overall goal for the SGA was give students a voice, create transparent relationships, develop student leaders, and improve school and student engagement,” Boone said in an interview about his experience last fall.

Boone, a Bertie County native, will graduate from ECSU Saturday, May 11. His yearlong stint as a Presidential Scholar will begin in July.