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NC Central Chancellor Retiring

North Carolina Central University chancellor Charlie Nelms is retiring.

Gurnal Scott: Five years to the month after becoming chancellor Nelms will step away. His colleagues describe the decision as shocking.

Kevin Rome: It's almost like a death when you don't expect it.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Kevin Rome says that's the feeling he's gotten from everyone he's talked to at the historically Black university. He says he wonders if the next leader can do what Nelms did for academics and Central's reputation

Kevin Rome: Will they bring that body and wealth of knowledge that he brought. And will they really be focused on what's best for the student.

UNC System President Tom Ross has named former state Appeals Court judge Charles Becton as interim chancellor.

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Gurnal Scott joined North Carolina Public Radio in March 2012 after several stops in radio and television. After graduating from the College of Charleston in his South Carolina hometown, he began his career in radio there. He started as a sports reporter at News/Talk Radio WTMA and won five Sportscaster of the Year awards. In 1997, Gurnal moved on to television as general assignment reporter and weekend anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston. He anchored the market's top-rated weekend newscasts until leaving Charleston for Memphis, TN in 2002. Gurnal worked at WPTY-TV for two years before returning to his roots in radio. He joined the staff of Memphis' NewsRadio 600 WREC in 2004 eventually rising to News Director. In 2006, Raleigh news radio station WPTF came calling and he became the station's chief correspondent. Gurnal’s reporting has been honored by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, the North Carolina Associated Press, and the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.
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