Woodward, James H. (University chancellor)

Wright, Christina

Charlotte, North Carolina

J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections & University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2013-11-19

1 audio file (52:02) : digital, MP3

sound recording-nonmusical

spoken word

eng

Dr. Woodward was a 74-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place in his office at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He was born in Sanford, Florida in 1939. He was educated at the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1962, a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1963, and a PhD in Engineering Mechanics in 1967. He was a professor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, North Carolina State University, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham. From 1969-1989 Dr. Woodward held ever-increasingly significant roles at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, serving as Dean of the School of Engineering and ultimately as Senior Vice President. In July of 1989, Dr. Woodward became the third chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte until his retirement in July 2005.

In this interview, Dr. James Woodward, chancellor emeritus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, reflects on Bonnie Cone and the history of UNC Charlotte. Describing Ms. Cone as a giant in a small body, Dr. Woodward recollects his first knowledge about and impressions of her, discusses his relationship with her and the other previous chancellors, Dean Colvard and E. K. Fretwell, and describes Ms. Cone's role at the university during his tenure. He comments on the unusual circumstance of all of UNC Charlotte's previous chancellors remaining in Charlotte after their retirement and on the mythical aspects of the university community's perception of Bonnie Cone. He explains Ms. Cone's role in defining the culture of UNC Charlotte, in engaging the community, and in overcoming political challenges facing the university. He also discusses her talent and motivation as well as the role her gender played in her accomplishments. Other topics include gender-related pay inequity in higher education during the 1970s and 1980s particularly at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the context surrounding the decision to choose someone other than Bonnie Cone to be the first chancellor of UNC Charlotte, and the process of having her buried on UNC Charlotte's campus.

MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master. Interview originally recorded on a Marantz PDM 670 digital recorder.

College presidents

Woodward, James H. (University chancellor)
Cone, Bonnie E., 1907-2003
Colvard, Dean W., 1913-2007
Fretwell, E. K., 1923-2012
Friday, William C. (William Clyde)
Witherspoon, Loy H., 1930-

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Women college presidents
Women in higher education
Public universities and colleges
Pay equity
Education, Higher--Political aspects

North Carolina--Charlotte

Interviews
Oral histories

1950-2020

UNC Charlotte Oral History Interviews

Memories of Bonnie Cone

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audio/mpeg

James H. Woodward oral history interview 1, 2012 December 11, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.; James H. Woodward oral history interview 2, 2012 December 13, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.; James H. Woodward oral history interview 4, 2014 September 16, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Chancellor’s Records (RG 05), J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

UA-WO0094