Two University Leaders Announce They Are Stepping Down From Their Posts

Kay Norton, president of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, announced that she will retire at the end of the current academic year. She will have served as the university’s president for 16 years. President Norton is the first woman to serve in the post. Prior to being named president in 2002, Norton joined the university’s staff in 1998 as vice president for university affairs, general counsel and secretary to the board of trustees.

In making the announcement, President Norton said, “the nature of the university makes it impossible to wrap up everything and hand it off with a nice bow on top, but we’re coming up to a logical transition point. It’s the right time for UNC, and it’s the right time for me.” Norton is a graduate of Wellesley College and the University of Denver College of Law.

Mary K. Grant, chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, will step down from her post at the end of the current semester to take the position as president of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston. Dr. Grant has served as chancellor since August, 2014. Previously, she was president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams for 12 years. Earlier in her career, Dr. Grant was assistant vice chancellor for administration and finance and human resources at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

Dr. Grant is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she majored in sociology. She holds a master of public affairs degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a Ph.D. in social policy from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.