Enter Theodora “Theo” Kalikow’s office and you can’t help but notice the colorful sneakers peeking out from behind her desk. She’ll explain later that, in a habit reminiscent of the late Mr. Rogers, they’re her go-to shoes when she eschews her vehicle for a walk to a campus meeting.
Kalikow
Kalikow has covered a lot of ground in her 53-year (and going) career in higher education. In full-circle fashion, she returns to UNC, where she cut her teeth as a college administrator, to serve as the interim chief academic officer for the year.
“The reason I came back at all is because I flunked retirement several times,” she quipped, before adding: “I enjoy giving back. It’s especially nice to come back to some place I was before to see all of the progress and the things I can help with.”
A lot has changed since the New England native left as dean of arts and sciences
in 1987. She described her time at UNC as her “big Western adventure,” being the first
time in her life residing west of the Mississippi (“even west of the Hudson”).
“The first thing I noticed is that Greeley went beyond 35th Avenue,” she said. As
for campus, “the framework is very much the same, but there are different buildings.”
She spent July settling into her Carter Hall office, unpacking boxes she sent from
her home in Scarborough, Maine; reacquainting herself with campus; reconnecting with
former colleagues at events such as the emeritus faculty luncheon; and meeting new
people.
She acknowledged the budget work that lies ahead and integrating Campus Commons when
it opens early next year. Her immediate goal is to manage the provost’s team and keep
things on track while a search for a permanent successor commences. No small task
when considering how Kalikow sums up the provost’s role: “everything that has anything
to do with academics may be reporting to me.”
Being a former university president herself also puts her in position to serve as
an adviser to new and first-time president Andy Feinstein.
“He asks when he needs to ask,” she said, before deadpanning, “and sometimes I tell
him when I think I need to tell him.”
Meet Theodora “Theo” Kalikow
Title: Interim UNC Provost
Previously: Interim Provost, Humboldt State University; Interim Vice Chancellor, University
of Maine System; President, University of Southern Maine; President, University of
Maine at Farmington
Also: Served seven years as a guest columnist for Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel and
developed “quite a fan base.” Her articles focused on learning in everyday life.
Hobbies: Swimming and running. Bronze medalist in triathlon in National Senior Games.
Faces of UNC is an ongoing series featuring faculty and staff. Know someone who should be featured here? Email UNC News and PR.
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