Kevin D. Howell, is the Chief External Affairs Officer at UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine. He is the former vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development at North Carolina State University. Howell previously served as vice president for external affairs at the University of North Carolina System Office from 2016 until 2018, where he served as a senior advisor to the UNC System president on issues affecting the seventeen institutions. Earlier in his career, he served as assistant to the chancellor for external affairs at NC State from 2006 to 2016. Howell served as director for governmental affairs at the North Carolina Bar Association, and as legislative liaison for two former governors. He currently serves on the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Treasurer, Centennial Authority Board, N.C. Symphony Board, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Centers Authority, and Research Triangle Foundation Board of Directors.