Chris Coduto/Arizona Daily Wildcat University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vice provost Robert Shelton at his office at UNC in Chapel Hill, N.C., during his teleconference with reporters in Arizona. Shelton was selected this afternoon to replace President Peter Likins who is retiring in June.

Robert Shelton from the University of North Carolina was chosen Friday to be the 19th UA president.

Shelton will begin his three-year appointment July 1 to succeed President Peter Likins, who will retire this summer at the age of 70.

The Arizona Board of Regents voted unanimously on the appointment at 2:30 p.m. Friday after meeting in an executive session that began at 10 a.m. in the “Swede” Johnson building, 1111 N. Cherry Ave.

Shelton, the executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, will receive a starting salary of $550,000 annually, said Christina Palacios, the board of regents president.

Shelton, a native of Phoenix, said he’s excited to be returning to his home state to assume the role as UA president.

“It feels like a homecoming. When my wife and I came out to visit everything just felt familiar,” Shelton said.

Fred Boice, chair of the search committee, said Likins has set a high standard and taken the university to a high level. He said he’s been delighted with what Likins has brought to the UA and welcomes Shelton because of the many attributes both men share.

“If we didn’t find these qualities in Shelton, we’d still be looking,” said Boice, adding that student input was integral in the decision process. “Shelton rose to the top and his career path led him to this position.”

Likins said he would have accepted the regents’ decision no matter what, but their reasons for choosing Shelton were consistent with his views.

“Shelton is prepared by experience,” Likins said.

“We’ve got some folks from the Wildcat out here,” Shelton said. “They’re here to cover the game and, as clever and enterprising students, they found their way into my office.” - Robert Shelton, On a conference call

Student Regent Ben Graff, the only student with a vote on the board, said he had a good impression of Shelton from the beginning.

“Shelton was part of my personal top-10 list very early on in the process.

I am very pleased that he will be the next president,” said Graff, a third-year UA law student.

Many student government officials echoed what the regents said, adding that they were pleased because the committee listened to student input and because Shelton considers “shared governance” a top priority.

“This is a win for all members of the community,” said Fernando Ascencio, Associated Students’ Association director.

Graduate student leaders said that of all the candidates, Shelton most resembled Likins’ pursuit of student success at a Research-I university.

“I’m absolutely not surprised of the announcement,” said Paul Thorn, vice-president of external affairs of the Graduate Professional Student Council. “He’s more than qualified to do the job. His preparation and leadership was similar to Likins and I believe he’ll do a good job filling Likins’ shoes.”

Randi Tanglen, the GPSC research and policy director, said GPSC members hope to “start out on a good foot” with the current Tar Heel provost by discussing such topics as differential tuition between undergraduate and graduate students and graduate student medical benefits.

“We hope he’s as approachable and has the same open-door policy as Likins,” Tanglen said. “Together we can work alongside one another and continue what President Likins has already set forward.”

Shelton said now that he has the position for certain, he will need to find time before the summer to come to the UA and begin the transition process.

“I will be making multiple trips out to Tucson and I hope to meet with the citizens of Tucson and the community,” Shelton said.

At forums held at the UA Jan. 20, Shelton said he wanted to develop a stronger connection between faculty and students to boost retention rates, and also create more diversity at the UA.

As executive vice chancellor and provost of UNC, Shelton is responsible for both the university’s budget and also the proper operation of the university’s research and academic programs.

Shelton, who has been at UNC since 2001, has helped the institution through fundraising, collaborating with other institutions, keeping tuition affordable for students and supporting the libraries, said Seth Dearmin, UNC student body president.

From 1996 to 2001, Shelton was vice provost for research for the University of California system.

Shelton holds a doctorate and master’s degree in physics from the University of California, San Diego, and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University.

Shelton has been married for 36 years and has three adult children.

-Anthony D. Ávila contributed to this report.