Mr. James Mitchell Jr. was appointed by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to serve a four-year term beginning July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2025. He was formerly president of R.J. Leeper Construction in Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Mitchell is an NCCU alumnus and was a longtime member of the Charlotte City Council. He was an advocate for neighborhoods and minority businesses and also founded Next Level Leadership, a program for African American youth in the Charlotte community. Mr. Mitchell previously worked for JE Dunn construction and Barton Malow, the primary contractor on the Charlotte Knights minor league baseball stadium. He has served as president of the North Carolina Black Elected Municipal Officials organization and the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, among other organizations.