A former Republican state representative was appointed to the UNCW board of trustees on Tuesday. Holly Grange was recommended by her party leader, Speaker Tim More in an appointments bill passed on Tuesday. Her term will start on July 1 and extend until 2025. 

In addition, President Pro Tempore Philip Berger recommended current board member Robert Rippy for reappointment. 

Grange served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020, where she represented District 20, which encompasses UNCW, Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Island. After her term, she launched an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination in the North Carolina governor’s race, where she lost to Dan Forest.  

Her campaign website features a video of her with former President Donald Trump. She also supports stricter immigration legislation and is against abortion, calling on Gov. Roy Cooper to end “infanticide” in North Carolina. 

Before her term in the House, she served as a board member to the North Carolina Ports Authority beginning in 2014. Grange is also a 15-year veteran who served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Core of Engineers after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy. She was stationed at Fort Bragg and veteran and first responder care is top priority for her.  

Grange has also served on the board of directors of Cape Fear Community College Foundation, Coastal Horizons Center, Inc., Access of Wilmington, and the USO of North Carolina. She is also a part of UNCW’s Swain Center for Professional Development advisory board. 

Board of trustees members work in conjunction with the chancellor on the university’s strategic goals, mission and approving policies and procedures. They are approved by the two top legislators in the General Assembly and the UNC System board of governors.