Meet Catrine Tudor-Locke: Dean of the College of Health and Human Services

Catrine Tudor-Locke, dean of the College of Health and Human Services, is an experienced researcher, mentor and administrator. She is an innovative and collaborative vision builder who embraces the mission of our urban research university. She joined UNC Charlotte as dean in August 2019. Previously, she served as associate dean for research and administration in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Get to know Tudor-Locke better through the questions below, asked by Julian Garcia, a senior communications major and intern in the Office of University Communications.

What attracted you to UNC Charlotte specifically?

I completed my training in Canada before moving to the United States for a postdoc in South Carolina and a tenure-track position at Arizona State University. I then shifted my focus to research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later moved into administrative roles at UMass Amherst. As a first-generation, low-income student, I wanted to give back and help others succeed. The opportunity at UNC Charlotte, with its focus on student access and social mobility, aligned with my goals, so I was happy to join the University.

What do you love most about UNC Charlotte?

I enjoy the lively atmosphere of the campus when the students return. There’s so much energy and activity, and it feels like a dynamic and exciting place to be.

How would you define your leadership style?

As team owners in the college, we don’t operate with a top-down leadership style. We emphasize a team-based leadership approach where all leaders are actively involved in decision-making. We prioritize shared governance, including input from faculty and staff. We value diverse perspectives and actively encourage different insights, as we believe they lead to better ideas and decision-making. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has opportunities to contribute and be heard.

What’s the best piece of professional or personal advice you have received?

Remember to keep exploring, stay open to alternatives and opportunities, and keep growing. When I work with younger mentees, I always encourage them to find ways to grow every day. This could be learning a new word, discovering a new process or even just interacting with someone new. I try to embody this philosophy by reading, interacting with others and seeking out new techniques. It doesn’t have to be formal —simply meeting someone new and learning about them counts as growth.

You are headed to a deserted island. You can take a food, a book and a song. What are they, and why?

I’ve encouraged all my leaders to read “The Go-Giver.” It’s a short but powerful book about business concepts. We’re adapting its principles to leadership, also exploring the follow-up book “The Go-Giver Leader.” Instead of a mindset focused on taking and demanding our needs, it’s about offering support, opening doors and taking a giving approach. It’s about facilitating interactions and leadership through giving. I’m vegan, so I often go to a place called Tacos For Life and order the seared tofu taco with black beans on the side. I also enjoy Ethiopian food for its variety. My husband grew up listening to punk music, particularly the California punk sound of The Offspring, although I personally prefer something a bit lighter.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I really enjoy mountain biking, and my husband does too. Riding through the woods is so much fun.