Sharon L. Gaber

Sharon L. Gaber, Ph.D., an academic with a background in city and regional planning, became the fifth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in July 2020. Since Gaber joined Charlotte, the University has embarked on “Shaping What’s Next,” a bold 10-year strategic plan that articulates a new vision as a globally recognized top-tier research university. During that time, the University has also seen a dramatic rise in its national profile, achieving a coveted position among the nation’s top 100 public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2024 rankings.

Deeply engaged in community and regional activities, she serves on the board of Charlotte Center City Partners and is a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Women Executives, the International Women’s Forum – Carolinas, and Charlotte’s Leading on Opportunity Council. She was also tapped to serve on the board of the UNC System’s Project Kitty Hawk.

At the national level, Gaber has served on multiple NCAA committees and is the first UNC System chancellor to serve as a member of Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Latino Student Success. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the American Athletic Conference.

In 2022, Gaber was named by The Charlotte Business Journal as one of the top 10 leaders who will drive Charlotte’s next stage of growth. She also has been named to Business North Carolina’s Power List for four consecutive years and was designated by Education Dive as “one of five higher education leaders to watch in 2018 and beyond.”

A native of Southern California, Gaber earned an A.B. in Economics and Urban Studies from Occidental College, an M.P.L. in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University. She has written numerous articles and co-authored a book on planning research methods.

Prior to UNC Charlotte, Gaber served for five years as president of the University of Toledo. Previously, she served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas, as an interim provost at Auburn University, and a faculty member and administrator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Officially the first woman to serve as chancellor of UNC Charlotte, Gaber follows the trail blazed by founding educator Bonnie Cone, who led the institution from 1946-66.