Senior Staff

Dr. Kimberly van Noort is UNC Asheville's Chancellor, bringing over three decades of higher education experience to the role. She previously served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer for the University of North Carolina System, which she joined in 2016. Prior to joining the UNC…

Paul Forte was named Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance and Chief Operating Officer at UNC Asheville in June 2024. He previously served in various financial and administrative roles within the UNC System including Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs at Appalachian State and as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance…

Yvonne Villanueva-Russell earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  She joined the faculty at Texas A&M University-Commerce and eventually held administrative roles as department head, assistant dean of the Honors College, associate dean of the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts, dean of University College and…

Dr. Meghan Harte Weyant currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at The University of North Carolina Asheville. Harte Weyant (or MHW) previously served as the Vice President for Student Life at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and prior to that as the Assistant Vice President for Student…

Kirk Swenson joined UNC Asheville as vice chancellor for university advancement in May 2020. As UNC Asheville’s chief advancement officer, Swenson is responsible for strategic leadership and oversight of all areas of advancement, including alumni and parent engagement, leadership giving, planned giving, annual giving, research and corporate, government and foundation…

John Dougherty joined UNC Asheville in July 2021 and currently serves as the university's Chief of Staff and General Counsel. In this role, he provides advice and counsel to university decisionmakers, including senior staff colleagues and the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees. Prior to UNC Asheville, he spent seven years…

Michael P. Strysick began his role as UNC Asheville’s chief university communication and marketing officer in 2022. In addition to extensive professional experience leading high-level efforts focused on integrated strategic communication, marketing, public relations and branding, he brings skills in crisis communication, executive messaging, undergraduate recruitment and fundraising. He joined…

Janet R. Cone, who has served as UNC Asheville's Director of Athletics since 2004, is the only woman currently serving on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee that selects and seeds the teams for March Madness. She was one of just 28 Directors of Athletics to be named as…