Division of Academic Affairs
Office of the Provost
Led by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Office is responsible for the strategic planning, development, and evaluation of the University’s instructional, research, and community engagement programs. Collaborating closely with the Deans of the Schools—including the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; the School of Education and Business; and the School of Science, Aviation, Health, and Technology—the Office ensures the academic integrity of the institution.
The Provost serves as the chief academic officer, providing final recommendations to the Chancellor, the ECSU Board of Trustees, and the UNC Board of Governors regarding the establishment of new degree programs and critical faculty matters including appointment, promotion, tenure, and compensation. Additionally, the Office oversees the implementation of academic policies and standards, ensuring the accuracy of the ECSU Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs to support the university’s commitment to excellence and student-centered learning.
Meet the Provost
Dr. Robert N. Corley III is the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). Since joining the university, he has led the Division of Academic Affairs with a strategic focus on advancing student success and elevating ECSU’s academic profile.
With more than two decades of experience in higher education, Dr. Corley previously served as a senior advisor to the president and dean at Virginia State University, as well as a faculty member and Faculty Senate chair at Tuskegee University. During his tenure at Virginia State University, he played a key role in strengthening research capacity and institutional competitiveness—doubling competitive grant awards from $13 million to $26 million over three years. He also successfully advocated for a $1.7 million increase in state matching funds, raising total support to $9.1 million to enhance research infrastructure and expand public service initiatives. In addition, he secured $1 million in philanthropic investment to advance the Hospitality Management program and oversaw strategic capital investments that supported academic excellence, innovation, and programmatic growth.
A prolific researcher, Dr. Corley has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and has raised over $66 million in personal research, extension, and academic program funding to accelerate institutional mission fulfillment. His scholarship, supported by numerous funding agencies, focuses on animal and human health, nutrition, and the ethical dimensions of scientific work.
Dr. Corley holds a doctorate in animal sciences from the University of Illinois and completed a fellowship in bioethics at Georgetown University.
Want to invite the Provost to an event? Please contact Mrs. Jestine Hughes, Executive Assistant to the Provost.