Cierra L. Griffin, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management in the Division of Academic Affairs, and Rodney L. McCrowre, assistant chair and assistant professor in the Broadwell College of Business and Economics, have been selected to join the University of North Carolina System Executive Leadership Institute’s sixth cohort. They are among 36 leaders who will spend 10 months learning, collaborating and bringing innovative ideas back to their respective universities. The cohort launches this fall, marking the beginning of their leadership journey.

“As North Carolina’s second-oldest public university and a proud UNC System constituent institution, Fayetteville State has a long record of developing exceptional professionals,” said Chancellor Darrell T. Allison in a press release. “We grow leaders here, and Dr. Griffin and Dr. McCrowre represent a deep bench of professionals who are ready for system-level responsibility. Their selection by the UNC System reflects the strength of our talent and reaffirms FSU’s role in shaping higher education in North Carolina.”

Griffin oversees student-facing services and has led initiatives for adult, transfer and military-connected students. McCrowre, an FSU alumnus and pre-business program director, is also the faculty athletics representative. Together, they support recruitment, advising, classroom achievement and student-athletes, offering a broad view of student success.

“I accept this selection with humility. It’s such a valuable investment for FSU,” said Griffin in a press release. “Following the program, my goal is to develop and implement targeted strategies to enhance my team's support for recruitment, retention and graduation rates. By refining our processes and introducing best practices, I hope to elevate student outcomes across these key areas.”

Echoing Griffin’s focus, McCrowre highlighted the importance of making a difference through collaboration. “Recognition isn’t the motivation behind our efforts—it’s about adding value. I look forward to learning from other campuses and bringing proven strategies back to Fayetteville State,” added McCrowre in a press release.

Including this selection, FSU counts 13 faculty and staff among those who have participated in the program.

The Executive Leadership Institute was established in 2019 to build a pipeline of executive leaders across North Carolina’s 17 public universities. Participants complete in-person immersion modules hosted by UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and UNC Charlotte, paired with executive coaching and applied learning in small peer teams.