Charlotte alumnus takes national stage for RNC

On March 8, Michael Whatley ’91 was elected co-chair of the Republican National Committee ahead of November’s national election. Whatley previously served as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party since 2019.

Whatley, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UNC Charlotte, attended Wake Forest University, where he completed a master’s degree in religion. He also earned a master’s in theology and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Active in politics for 40 years, beginning with volunteer roles in high school, Whatley held positions as a federal law clerk to the U.S. District Judge Robert Potter and senior official for the Department of Energy under President George W. Bush. Whatley also served as chief of staff for Elizabeth Dole, U.S. senator from North Carolina, and as a senior official in the Bush-Cheney election campaign. He also was general counsel to the Republican National Committee.