Bates appointed New Executive Director of University Career Services

Tierney Bates was named as executive director of University Career Services(UCS) following a competitive, nation-wide search. Bates has served as interim executive director since January 2020. He will assume this new position on Sept. 7.

In his time in the position over the last year and a half, Bates has provided strong leadership of the UCS team, particularly in the areas of strategic planning and partnership-building across campus and with current and potential employers. During his tenure his team made an abrupt shift to virtual career fairs and counseling to respond to needs during the pandemic. He won the first-ever Mackes Leadership Award from the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) in April 2021, named after a leader in the field.

Bates will continue to direct the overall strategic planning and implementation of career services and professional development to ensure Carolina students are prepared for their internship and job searches and for success in their chosen careers.

Prior to his tenure at Carolina, Bates accrued nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, including areas of career development, academic student success, diversity programs, student affairs and fundraising. Most recently he served as vice president for enrollment and student services at Virginia Union University. Prior to that he was assistant vice chancellor for student affairs at North Carolina Central University. He has also held positions at the University of Louisville, the University of Tennessee and Bowling Green State University.

Bates holds a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from Spalding University, in addition to an MBA from Bryan College and a master’s degree in higher education administration and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron.

Many thanks to the members of the search committee for their work identifying and interviewing candidates:

• Chair, Lori Haight, Career Services Coordinator, School of Information and Library Sciences
• Chloe Russell, Associate Dean of Academic Advising 
• Sarah Crockett, Assistant Director, Kenan-Flagler Undergraduate Business Program 
• Grace Decker, Career Peer
• Marcie Leemore, Director of Enrichment Programs, Alumni Affairs 
• Coop Roberts-Cooper, Associate Director of Residential Learning