On Feb. 6, UNC System Interim President Bill Roper announced the appointment of Kevin Guskiewicz as UNC’s interim chancellor.

“After widespread and helpful input, I strongly believe Kevin is the best person to lead UNC-Chapel Hill,” Roper said in a statement via UNC-Chapel Hill University News. “Kevin is an outstanding researcher, innovator, and strategic thinker, and I look forward to working with him over the coming months, along with the strong leadership team at Carolina.”

According to UNC-Chapel Hill, Guskiewicz was the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, the largest academic unit at UNC, since January 2016.

In addition, Guskiewicz has been a faculty member of UNC since 1995, as well as a neuroscientist and nationally recognized expert on sports-related concussions, according to The Daily Tar Heel.

In a statement from UNC-Chapel Hill, Guskiewicz expressed his honor and excitement to lead UNC forward.

“It is an honor to be asked to lead the nation’s first public university into the next chapter of its storied history,” Guskiewicz said via statement. “When I became dean, I pledged to be ‘strategic, bold and student-focused,’ and those imperatives will continue to guide me in this role.”

According to the Herald Sun, Guskiewicz, who has suggested relocating the Silent Sam Confederate monument, is likely to become chancellor when the Board of Governors makes a final decision about the statue.