The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise Research Fellowship is an opportunity for advanced doctoral students, post docs and early career faculty researching the topics of entrepreneurship, economic development, or global competitiveness.
The Kenan Institute draws on the expertise and insights of its Research Fellows. Fellows represent an intellectually diverse group of business and policy scholars that advise the Institute’s core initiatives and affiliated centers.
The Kenan Institute’s Distinguished Fellows comprise an exemplary set of global scholars committed to leveraging their individual expertise, thought leadership, research and networks to further the institute’s efforts to examine – and drive solutions to – the most complex and timely issues facing business and the economy today. Appointed on an annual basis, the 2025 Distinguished Fellows work to support the Kenan Institute’s grand challenge initiative.
Connections between leaders of in the private sector, policy makers, and the academy are central to the mission of the Institute. Kenan Institute Fellows play an instrumental role in advancing our mission by advising initiatives and affiliated centers on current developments in business and policy as well as facilitating outreach to key constituents.
Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and Chief Innovation Officer, UNC Chapel Hill
CEO, The Michael Thomas Group Inc.; former president, North Carolina Community College System
Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and Chief Innovation Officer, UNC Chapel Hill
CEO, The Michael Thomas Group Inc.; former president, North Carolina Community College System