Longtime Bank of America executive Catherine Bessant and Deloitte managing partner Theresa Drew will join UNC Charlotte’s leadership as new members of the Board of Trustees.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory appointed Bessant and also reappointed current trustee David Hauser to a second term on the board. The UNC Board of Governors appointed Drew to UNC Charlotte’s trustees. Karen Popp, Mary Ann Rouse and Michael Wilson, current trustees, were reappointed by the Board of Governors to full four-year terms beginning July 1.
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois welcomed the leadership skills and vision that new trustees Bessant and Drew bring to the Board of Trustees.
“UNC Charlotte is the beneficiary of the talents our trustees possess,” Dubois said. “They are dedicated to the University and we appreciate the time and expertise they provide as we educate the next generation of leaders who will follow in their footsteps.”
Bessant joined Bank of America in 1982. As global technology and operations executive, she is responsible for delivering end-to-end technology and operations across Bank of America through a global team of more than 100,000 employees and contractors. Bessant also chairs Bank of America’s Environmental Council and oversees the company’s 10-year, $50 billion environmental business goal to help address climate change, reduce demands on natural resources and advance lower carbon economic solutions.
She joins a long list of Bank of America executives who have served as UNC Charlotte trustees. Others include the late Addison Reese, the late Thomas Storrs, the late Graham Denton, Hugh L. McColl Jr. and current trustee and UNC Charlotte alumnus Joe Price.
Theresa Drew is the managing partner for the Carolinas practice of Deloitte, one of the largest accounting firms in the region, with more than 900 employees. She is the only woman to lead a “Big Four” accounting firm in Charlotte. Drew is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Belk College of Business and is active on the Board of Directors of the Arts & Science Council, Charlotte Chamber and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte.