Molly Corbett Broad


Molly Corbett Broad is a former president of the American Council on Education and the University of North Carolina.

Early life and education

Molly Corbett was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of two public school teachers. She earned a General Motors Scholarship to Syracuse University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1962 with a baccalaureate degree in economics from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She received a master's degree in economics from Ohio State University.

Career in university administration

Broad started her career at Syracuse University; from 1971–85, she served as Manager of the Office of Budget and Planning, Director of Institutional Research, and Vice President for Government and Corporate Relations. In 1976, she served the Director of the New York State Commission on the Future of Postsecondary Education.
From 1985-92, Broad served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Arizona University System. She then moved to the California State University System, serving as Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance from 1992–93, and Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer from 1993-97.
Broad served as the President of the University of North Carolina system from 1997 to 2006, and was named President of the American Council on Education on January 15, 2008. Broad, who succeeded David Ward on May 1, 2008, became the first woman to lead the organization since it was founded, in 1918.

Personal life

Broad is married to Robert W. Broad, and has two adult sons.