ROCKY MOUNT – Dan Gerlach, who has directed the Golden LEAF Foundation for the past decade, is stepping down to become interim chancellor at East Carolina University.

Replacing Gerlach effective May 3 on an interim basis is Ted Lord, the senior vice president and staff attorney for Golden LEAF. He is a 13-year veteran of the foundation staff.

Golden LEAF Foundation

The changes were announced Wednesday.

Golden LEAF was established in 1999 to oversee parts of North Carolina’s funding received from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers.

Among its projects under Gerlach’s tenure was the providing of funds to expand the MCNC fiber optic network across the state.

“The decision to leave Golden LEAF was not an easy one,” said Gerlach in a statement. “I have been honored to work with dedicated and passionate Board and staff members, and hope that in some small way, rural and tobacco-dependent North Carolina is better for our work.”

University of North Carolina Interim President Dr. Bill Roper announced Tuesday that Gerlach will serve as ECU’s leader.

Gerlach replaces Cecil Sutton, who announced on March 18 that he would resign effective May 5.

“Dan Gerlach has been a tremendous advocate for higher education and eastern North Carolina for more than a decade,” Roper said in a statement. “With his exemplary record of service and leadership, he is the ideal candidate to lead ECU going forward.”

“ECU provides more opportunity for rural North Carolinians than any other institution, and I look forward to working with the entire ECU community to meet the needs of our students, their families and the communities that look to this great university for inspiration and leadership,” Gerlach said in a statement.

The Golden LEAF foundation noted that under Gerlach’s direction it:

  • “Grew its endowment from $650 million to $1.1 billion;
  • “Awarded over 1,100 grants totaling over $550 million
  • “Leveraged $100 million in federal funds to extend middle-mile broadband service across rural North Carolina
  • “Helped thousands of North Carolina higher education students attend college and gain access to leadership development and internships
  • “Took on new responsibility to construct and execute grants programs for communities and individuals recovering from Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, leading to the award of 167 grants totaling over $80 million to date.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Dan for his service,” said Randy Isenhower, chair of the Golden LEAF Board of Directors, in a statement. “His work ethic, focus, collaborative nature, knowledge of the state, and sense of humor benefited us all, and will benefit ECU. We wish him all the best.”