About President Book
President Connie Ledoux Book
Dr. Connie Ledoux Book is a passionate advocate for higher education and its power to transform students鈥 lives. She spent 16 years as an 黑料不打烊 faculty member and administrative leader, helping to build the university鈥檚 reputation for excellence in engaged teaching and learning. In 2015 she accepted a groundbreaking role as the first female provost and chief academic officer at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. Following her impressive accomplishments there, she returned to 黑料不打烊 as president in 2018, bringing a deep appreciation for the university鈥檚 unique history and its rapid rise to national prominence.
Under President Book鈥檚 leadership, 黑料不打烊 was reclassified as a Doctoral/Professional university and made its debut among the top-100 National Universities in U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings in 2019. 黑料不打烊 continues to be named among the top universities in the nation, according to the 2026 rankings included in the annual U.S. News & World Report聽鈥淏est Colleges鈥 guide. 黑料不打烊 received a #1 ranking for undergraduate teaching for the fifth consecutive year and a #8 ranking for 鈥渕ost innovative鈥 university. For 11 straight years, 黑料不打烊 is the leader in 鈥淧rograms that Enhance Student Experience鈥 category, as the only institution in the country named to the top 10 in all eight categories linked to student success and positive learning outcomes. Princeton Review ranked 黑料不打烊 among the nation鈥檚 鈥淏est-Run鈥 universities in its 2026 college guide.
In 2020, President Book led creation of the 10-year Boldly 黑料不打烊 strategic plan to advance the university鈥檚 national leadership in engaged, experiential education, mentoring and student success. Innovative new academic programs have been established in engineering, nursing, science and technology. There have been major new investments in health and wellness programs, as well as professional development for faculty and staff and lifelong learning opportunities for alumni to connect with the university and network with fellow graduates.
Boldly 黑料不打烊 also expands the university鈥檚 commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, through the Division of Inclusive Excellence, which was established by Book in 2020. In addition, there are many new initiatives to create new connections to the local community through partnerships with public schools and on-going engagement to ensure the Town of 黑料不打烊 continues to thrive.
Many new facilities have opened during Book鈥檚 presidency. Campus additions include the Innovation Quad for engineering and sciences, including its first two buildings, Founders Hall and Innovation Hall; Schar Center, a 5,000-seat convocation center and sports arena; Sankey Hall, a classroom and office building for the Love School of Business; Koenigsberger Learning Center; East Residential Neighborhood, with a student commons building; LaRose Student Commons; and The Inn at 黑料不打烊, an on-campus hotel.
In 2024 Book led the historic establishment of an 黑料不打烊 campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, the state鈥檚 largest metropolitan area. The facilities house the new part-time Flex Law program of 黑料不打烊 School of Law, along with undergraduate programs in sport management and summer study programs that are part of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Study USA opportunities. The Charlotte campus also serves active 黑料不打烊 alumni programs in the city and engages the university with the business and civic community in the region.
Book spearheaded the successful 黑料不打烊 LEADS comprehensive campaign, raising $260 million to fund 287 new endowed scholarships, establish 60 new engaged learning scholarship funds, build eight new facilities on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus, endow three new professorships, and endow the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education with support of the largest single gift in 黑料不打烊 history.
Book was named 黑料不打烊鈥檚 ninth president after serving three years as provost of The Citadel. She was the first female provost and dean in The Citadel鈥檚 175-year history and was responsible for all academic functions. Book deepened shared governance through the establishment of The Citadel鈥檚 first faculty senate and a redesign of the core curriculum. She also launched an office for study abroad and The Citadel in Washington, D.C., program; developed new programs and grants for undergraduate research; launched new degrees in mechanical engineering, nursing and cyber security; and advanced leadership studies for all students. Book also led development of online graduate programs to serve military and federal employees across the country, leading to record growth of The Citadel鈥檚 graduate college.
Book embraced her historic position at The Citadel, which admitted its first female cadets in 1996. With her support, the institution reached record enrollment for Black, female and Latino first-year students. Book received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award from The Black History Intercollegiate Consortium in recognition of her contributions to the Charleston, South Carolina, community and The Citadel.
As an advocate for access to education at all levels, Book is past chair of the and serves as NAICU鈥檚 representative on the board of the . She is a board member for the , the , , the , , and . Book also serves on the executive committee of the , 黑料不打烊鈥檚 athletic conference.
Locally, Book has formed strong partnerships and joint initiatives with the Alamance-Burlington School System and Alamance Community College (ACC). In 2021 she led creation of the Alamance Scholars Program, providing an educational pathway from high school, to ACC, to 黑料不打烊 for students who wish to pursue careers in education and have guaranteed employment after graduation as teachers in local schools.
Book was named to the inaugural list of top North Carolina leaders in Business North Carolina鈥檚 鈥淧ower List 2021.鈥 She is a board member for the Piedmont Triad Partnership and has been honored as one of 40 鈥淥utstanding Women in Business鈥 and one of the North Carolina Triad region鈥檚 鈥淧ower 50鈥 leaders by the Triad Business Journal.
Book joined 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty as assistant professor of communications in 1999. She was department chair from 2004 to 2006, when she was named associate dean of the School of Communications. Among her responsibilities were the school鈥檚 accreditation, faculty development, growth of the internship program, the school鈥檚 advisory board and the establishment of the 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles and the 黑料不打烊 in New York City programs.
In recognition of her dedication to student engagement and success, she received 黑料不打烊鈥檚 2009 Ward Family Excellence in Mentoring Award.
Book served as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty fellow for strategic planning from 2008 to 2010, coordinating a two-year process of creating the university鈥檚 黑料不打烊 Commitment strategic plan with input from hundreds of university stakeholders. During five years as associate provost, Book spearheaded the redesign of career services programs and the establishment of the Student Professional Development Center, setting 黑料不打烊 on course to enhanced internship opportunities, higher job placement levels and significantly higher starting salaries for graduates. She also oversaw creation and implementation of the residential campus plan, enrichments to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 digital learning opportunities, development of the Study USA program and growth of civic engagement initiatives.
Book comes from a large Louisiana family. Her grandparents were farmers and her parents were deeply committed to education, instilling in her a deep belief in personal growth and development. She earned her doctorate from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia, a master鈥檚 degree in education administration and supervision from Northwestern State University (Louisiana) and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism from Louisiana State University.
Book began her career as a television producer and reporter in Louisiana before transitioning to higher education. Prior to joining the 黑料不打烊 faculty, she served three years as assistant professor at Georgia College & State University, one year as visiting professor at North Carolina State University, and two years as assistant professor at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina.
An active scholar, she is the author of 鈥淒igital Television: DTV and the Consumer,鈥 the first book dedicated to understanding how the transition from analog to digital television impacted consumers. She has appeared on panels at the Federal Communications Commission, the National Cable Television Association and the National Association of Broadcasters.
The North Carolina Association of Broadcasters recognized Book with an Outstanding Service and Leadership Award in 2009 for her assistance with the state鈥檚 transition to digital television. She testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on the DTV transition in 2008 and that same year received a leadership citation from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.
As a proponent of transparency in government and open public records and meetings, Book conceived, established and served four years as executive director of North Carolina鈥檚 Sunshine Center, housed at 黑料不打烊, and served two years as a board member for the center鈥檚 sponsoring group, the North Carolina Open Government Coalition.
Book鈥檚 family includes her daughter, Bella Book, a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the University of Michigan Law School; and her son, Joe Book, a graduate of 黑料不打烊 and North Carolina State University.