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Celebrating Director Leslie Boney’s Retirement from NC State

Celebrating Director Leslie Boney’s Retirement from NC State

April 18, 2022 2-min. read
Two men stand on a stage. One man is presenting a framed certificate to the other man.
Leslie received an official certificate of retirement from NC State from Dr. Tom Miller of the Provost's Office.

Leslie Boney joined NC State University in 2017 as Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI). He also served as the Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement. Leslie’s career includes service to the State of North Carolina; 5 years with the noted North Carolina nonprofit organization, MDC; 9 years as a reporter in Wilmington and Raleigh; and 3 years as a teacher.

Leslie Boney is retiring from NC State University on May 1, 2022. He will be succeeded at IEI by Interim Director Sarah Langer Hall, who is Senior Policy and Program Manager at IEI. He will be succeeded at Outreach and Engagement by Interim Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement Kwesi Brookins (Associate Professor of Psychology and Africana Studies). 

Leslie’s colleagues, friends and family gathered to celebrate his retirement from the university at a reception at the NC State Park Alumni Center on April 6.

Please enjoy a few photos and remarks from the event.

Two men and a woman stand together, smiling for the photo.
Leslie Boney with his son and wife.
A table centerpiece of tennis balls and sunglasses in a vase, next to a glass bowl of colored tiles with various words printed on them.
The tables were decorated with centerpieces of tennis balls and Diet Mountain Dew, two of Leslie’s favorite things. Attendees were encouraged to use colorful tiles to create a good luck wish for Leslie.

Leslie is one of this state’s greatest leaders and one of the finest people I have ever worked with. 
– Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.

Two men stand on a stage. One man is presenting a framed certificate to the other man.
Leslie received an official certificate of retirement from NC State from Dr. Tom Miller of the Provost’s Office.
Two men stand on stage. One man has presented the other with a wooden carving as a gift.
Dr. Kwesi Brookins presented Leslie with a hand-carved statue. Dr. Brookins will be the interim vice provost of the Office of Outreach and Engagement.

He is one of the most creative leaders I have ever worked with. And as you all know, he is a truly bright light in this world.
– Sarah Langer Hall

A woman and two men stand on stage and display gifts.
Sarah Langer Hall and Dr. Kwesi Brookins presented Leslie with a few gifts. Sarah Langer Hall will be the interim director of IEI.

 Your humor and charm made you enjoyable to work with.
– Mike Smith

A man stands at a podium, holding up a blank sheet of paper and smiling.
Leslie proudly displayed what his to-do list will look like for the near future.

When I hear the term “thought leader”, I think of you.
– Anne Bacon

A group of people standing in an event hall, applauding.
Leslie’s career includes service to the State of North Carolina; 5 years with the nonprofit organization MDC; 9 years as a reporter in Wilmington and Raleigh; and 3 years as a teacher.

You sculpt innovative solutions and advocate for doing.
– Nina Szlosberg-Landis

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