Molly Corbett Broad

Molly Corbett Broad (February 22, 1941 – January 2, 2023) was an American academic administrator who was president of the American Council on Education and the University of North Carolina.

Molly Corbett Broad
President of the American Council on Education
In office 2008–2017
Preceded by	David Ward
Succeeded by	Ted Mitchell
President of the University of North Carolina System
In office 1997–2006
Preceded by	Clemmie Spangler
Succeeded by	Erskine Bowles
Personal details
Born	(1941-02-22)February 22, 1941 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 2, 2023(2023-01-02) (aged 81)
Spouse	Robert W. Broad ​ ​ (m. 1962; died 2020)​
Children	2
Alma mater	Syracuse University Ohio State University
Occupation	Educator

Early life and education

Molly Corbett was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on February 22, 1941,^[1][2] one of four children of Stanley A. Corbett and Margaret (née Kelly) Corbett, both public school teachers.^[3][4][5] She earned a General Motors Scholarship to Syracuse University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1962 with a baccalaureate degree in economics from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.^[6][7] She kept close relations with Syracuse where she was a longtime member of the Maxwell School Advisory Board. She was awarded the George Arents Pioneer Medal (1999), Syracuse's highest alumni honor, honorary doctor of laws degree (2009), and the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award (2015).^[6] She received a master's degree in economics from Ohio State University.^[4]

Career in university administration

Broad started her career at Syracuse University; from 1971–85, she served as Manager of the Office of Budget and Planning, Director of Institutional Research, and Vice President for Government and Corporate Relations.^[6] In 1976, she served the Director of the New York State Commission on the Future of Postsecondary Education.^[7]

From 1985 to 1992, Broad served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Arizona University System. She then moved to the California State University System, serving as Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance from 1992–93, and Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer from 1993-97.^[8]

Broad served as the third President of the University of North Carolina system from 1997 to 2006.^[9] During her time in this role, she oversaw a historic $3.1 billion higher education bond and created the state's first need-based scholarship program. She also focused on doubling overall minority enrollment and worked to make higher education more accessible through technology. She pushed for greater independence for individual campuses within the UNC System. She also challenged the state's tradition of low tuition costs by raising tuition but increasing financial aid. In addition, she continuously sought out projects that could generate more funding for the UNC System and boost the state's economy.^[4][3]

She was named the twelfth President of the American Council on Education on January 15, 2008. Broad, who succeeded David Ward on May 1, 2008, became the first woman to lead the organization since it was founded, in 1918.^[10] She left the job in on October 31, 2017.^[11]

Broad had been working as a partner at RIDGE-LANE LP's Education Practice since 2018.^[12] She also held a position on the TIAA-CREF Board of Overseers, and previously served on the PBS Board of Directors,^[13] and as the chair of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, a research, policy, and advocacy organization.^[3][14]

Personal life and death

Broad met her future husband, Robert W. Broad, at Syracuse University and they married in 1962.^[15] He died in 2020.^[16] The couple have two adult sons.^[3]

Broad died on January 2, 2023, at the age of 81.^[3][17]

References

1. "Broad, Molly Corbett (c. 1941–)". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
2. "Molly Corbett Broad from Chapel Hill, NC". Nuwber.com. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
3. Perez Uribe Guinassi, Luciana (January 4, 2023). "Molly Corbett Broad, former president of UNC System and education leader, dies". News & Observer. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
4. Ozumba, Michele (September 17, 2020). "Molly Corbett Broad". Junctures in Women's Leadership. Rutgers University Press. pp. 70–81. doi:10.36019/9780813586243-008. ISBN 978-0-8135-8624-3. S2CID 242330869. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
5. "Margaret Corbett March 24, 1999". Timesleader.com. Margaret Kelly Corbett, Mother Of University Of North Carolina President Molly Corbett Broad, Died Wednesday At The Age Of 94 After An Extended Period Of Declining Health. She Had Been A Resident At Carolina House In Chapel Hill, N.c., Since 1997
6. Homan Rodoski, Kelly (January 5, 2023). "Prominent Higher Education Leader, Alumna Molly Corbett Broad '62, H'09 Remembered". Syracuse University News. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
7. DiDomenico, Tammy (January 1, 1999). "Alumni Academic Leaders". Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 16, no. 2. p. 44. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
8. Lederman, Doug (January 4, 2023). "Molly Broad, Who Had a Career Full of Higher Ed Firsts, Dies". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
9. Gifts of Speech - Molly Corbett Broad Inaugural Address (Speech). gos.sbc.edu. University of North Carolina. April 29, 1998. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
10. "Profile". Acenet.edu. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
11. "ACE President Molly Corbett Broad Announces Plans to Leave Post". www.acenet.edu (Press release). January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
12. "Molly Corbett Broad: Partner, Education". RIDGE-LANE Limited Partners. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
13. "PBS Board Elects New Members and Directors". PBS. November 14, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
14. "Bio - Molly Corbett Broad". Nadohe.org.
15. O'Brien, John (October 23, 2017). "A Joyful Series of Breakthroughs: An Interview with Molly Broad". Educause. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
16. "Robert Broad Obituary (1936 - 2020) - Chapel Hill, NC". Syracuse Post Standard. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
17. "Statements on the passing of former University of North Carolina System President Molly Corbett Broad" (Press release). January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.