Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, Sr. was elected the 8th chancellor of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) on May 15, 2025, by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors following a national search and nomination by UNC System President Peter Hans. Hargrove brings more than three decades of leadership, teaching, and research experience in higher education and industry, with service at three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Previously, Hargrove served as immediate past provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Tuskegee University, where he led the implementation of a five-year strategic plan that resulted in a 10% increase in enrollment for consecutive years and improved graduation rates. His tenure also included the development of a new aviation program and a data science initiative.
From 2009 to 2021, Hargrove served as dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University (TSU), where he also led the TSU’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Engineering Research Institute. From 2002 to 2009, he was chair and professor of the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Information Engineering at Morgan State University. Previously, he was a faculty member at Tuskegee in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Hargrove’s background includes research and leadership roles in both the private sector and government. He previously worked as a manufacturing engineer and supervisor at General Electric, and with Boeing and General Motors. His research experience included working and collaborating with several national and federal laboratories. He is a Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) and registered Professional Engineer (PE). He completed leadership fellowships with Harvard University’s Administrative Fellowship Program, Higher Education Leadership Foundation, and the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute.
Hargrove holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Tennessee State University, a master’s in engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, a doctorate in industrial and manufacturing engineering at the University of Iowa, and a master’s in business administration from Tennessee State. He also completed a post-doc at the University of Michigan.