Gabrielle Isaac | The Robesonian Kyle Carter, who retired Tuesday from his position as chancellor of UNCP, plans to spend time working as a higher education consultant while also spending time with his family. He and his wife plan to move to Asheville after their home is built.

Kyle Carter

PEMBROKE — For Kyle Carter, time really did fly.

“There is a saying that says: ‘The days are long but the years are short.’ I think my career has certainly proven that. You need to enjoy every day you have available,” said Carter, who left The University of North Carolina at Pembroke on Tuesday after five years as chancellor and 41 years in education.

Carter, in a farewell column published in The Robesonian on June 28, listed achievements that occurred during his tenure — raised enrollment; new football stadium and program; opened a new Health Sciences Building and Cypress Residence Hall; improved the freshman retention rate; improved the university’s academic profile; created an Entrepreneurship Incubator; and connected with Lumbee culture.

Carter, who was named chancellor in 2010, announced his retirement in November, saying it was time to pass the baton. That baton has been handed off to Dr. Robin Cummings, a Pembroke native expected to begin the job in the middle of this month.

Carter said one of his only regrets was not being able to do more financial campaigns within the university because of staffing issues in the advancement office.

Overall, Carter believes that he has helped change the academic and social culture around campus, and those who worked with agree.

Joshua Malcolm, the general counsel for the chancellor, says that Carter “renewed academic excellence” at UNCP.

“During my time in the UNC system, private industry and the U.S. military, I’ve worked with very few people that were as goal-oriented as Kyle Carter,” Malcolm said. “I think this leadership attribute was exactly what UNC Pembroke needed the last few years in order for the campus to continue its maturation process, with its ultimate objective of becoming a school of choice.”

Sandy Briscar, the executive director of University Communications and Marketing, echoed Malcolm’s thoughts and believes that every decision Carter made during his time as chancellor was in support of the university’s strategic goals.

Although Carter retired as a chancellor on Tuesday, he won’t completely leave the world of academics behind.

“I am going to be doing some higher education consulting to help people be successful as a provost, chancellor or administrator,” he said.

According to Carter, working in university administration was never the plan — he just wanted to be a professor.

“When you’re in a department, there are administrative jobs that faculty do. I started doing some of those and people liked what I did,” he said. “I just started making differences at each level. I guess the rest is history.”

During his 41 years in education, Carter has worked, among other positions, as a professor, graduate dean and as a provost. It was during his time working as a provost that Carter decided he wanted to become more deeply involved in the inner workings of a university.

“I had been a provost for more than 11 years and I guess I had decided that I wanted to lead a campus through strategic initiatives,” he said. “I really like North Carolina and the UNC system. I was encouraged by Harold Martin, the chancellor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, to look at this job.”

In his farewell column, Carter compared his time as chancellor to running a track race.

“Seeing what’s behind me, I’m satisfied with the race I’ve run,” Carter said. “I’ve looked back at what we’ve accomplished, and now I’m closing the gap between me and Robin Cummings. I am ready to place this baton firmly into his capable hand, and clearly he is ready to take it.”

Carter plans to dedicate most of his retirement to family, spending time as a grandfather and husband. He and his wife, Sarah, plan to move to Asheville. But until their home is built, the Carters will spend time in their retreat home near Western Carolina University.