Dr. Shelley Earp to deliver 2024 Winter Commencement address
Earp, who served two stints as director of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, will speak at the Dec. 15 ceremony.
Dr. Shelton “Shelley” Earp, a longtime member of the UNC School of Medicine faculty and former director of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, will deliver the keynote address at UNC-Chapel Hill’s 2024 Winter Commencement.
The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Dean E. Smith Center.
Earp directed the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center for 22 years, from 1997 to 2014 and again from 2018 to June 2024.
Under his leadership, UNC Lineberger became one of the nation’s leading cancer research hubs, connecting faculty from across the University and beyond. Earp also initiated partnerships with other University of North Carolina System schools, recognizing the importance of collaboration in research that leads to new treatments for cancer. The N.C. Basnight Cancer Hospital, clinical home of UNC Lineberger, is ranked as the top cancer center in North Carolina and is among the top 30 nationwide.
He continues to lead UNC Cancer Care at UNC Health and directs a lab researching treatments for a range of cancers including breast, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancer, as well as leukemias and melanoma.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Earp will serve as our keynote speaker for the Winter Commencement. He has been part of the Carolina community for more than 55 years. His commitment to this University is an unparalleled example of public service and leadership,” Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said. “As a long-time faculty member and former director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Earp has spent many years making significant contributions to our mission of improving the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina and beyond. We are confident that his address will inspire and enlighten our graduates as they prepare to embark on their next journey. His renowned expertise and spirit of service make him an exceptional choice as our Commencement speaker, and we look forward to the insights and wisdom he will share.”
Earp graduated from the UNC School of Medicine and has been a member of its faculty since 1977. He currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Cancer Research, Medicine and Pharmacology.
In 2023, Earp was recognized with the O. Max Gardner Award, which honors faculty who have “made the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race.” It is the highest faculty honor at UNC-Chapel Hill.
More information about Winter Commencement can be found on the Commencement website.
