Yesterday our university got a new president-elect, Tom Ross of Davidson, N.C.

The governing board of the UNC System, which has 17 campuses, including this one in Chapel Hill, elected him officially yesterday.

Ross is currently the president of Davidson College — and he has deep roots in our state and its leadership.

I believe he will be an effective leader for all of UNC, including the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health Care.

I very much look forward to getting to know him and to working with and for him.

He starts January 1, 2011.

Meanwhile, we have four more months of Erskine Bowles’ exemplary leadership. He has been superb, at a distance and up close.

Speaking personally, he is the best boss I have ever had.

Thank you, Erskine, for all you have done for our institution and for me.