Tuesday, February 23, 2016

The University of North Carolina Wilmington will open the inaugural session of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture series with Kelly S. King, chairman and chief executive officer of BB&T Corporation. King will speak on “Perspectives on Leadership” on March 3 at 4 p.m. in the Burney Center. The event is open to UNCW students, faculty and staff.

“This series is an opportunity to bring in successful people to share ideas that spark vigorous discussion among the campus community,” UNCW Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli said. “These leaders are working to solve problems and they seek new approaches to address the constantly changing business, cultural, global and political landscapes. By involving students in these conversations, we can broaden their education and better equip them to enter the job market or graduate school as well-rounded, informed and active participants in their communities.”

King was named president and CEO in 2009 and became chairman a year later. He is credited with leading BB&T to profitability and financial stability through the extended economic downturn that began in 2008. For his leadership during that difficult financial stretch, American Banker named King the 2015 Banker of the Year.

The Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series will feature executives, government officials, academic professionals and nationally recognized speakers. This new series will bring individuals to the UNCW campus to provide informative lectures on topics related to values, hard work and leadership skills, and who can serve as role models for UNCW’s students.

Under King’s guidance, BB&T began The Lighthouse Project, which has grown into a nationally recognized volunteer program. Company associates have donated more than 385,000 hours and completed more than 7,000 community projects since the program began in 2009.

King is president of the Federal Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve System and is a former member of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia.

A Q&A will follow the speech.