Fayetteville State’s Griffin and McCrowre Selected for UNC Executive Leadership Institute
The duo joins a 36-member cohort this fall for campus immersions and executive coaching to build system-ready leaders.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Better advising, stronger retention, and a bigger voice for Bronco families. That is what two Fayetteville State University leaders say they plan to bring home after being selected by the University of North Carolina System on July 3 for the Executive Leadership Institute, a program that identifies and prepares future leaders for North Carolina’s public universities.
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, join the program’s sixth cohort. Selected from an accomplished group of peers across the UNC System, 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. “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. “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.”
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. As of June 2024, 100 leaders have completed the program.