Agenda: UNC Will Elect New President Friday

After a long and contentious search, the University of North Carolina system could soon have a new leader.

According to agendas released Tuesday, the UNC Board of Governors will elect a new president on Friday.

After announcing they were pushing out President Tom Ross next year, the Board of Governors embarked on a months-long search to replace him.

Ross held the office for five years, and many saw the ouster as politically-motivated.

The board has also been at odds with the legislature, which passed a bill this year requiring three candidates to be put forward for full consideration of the system presidency. That bill has not yet been signed by Gov. Pat McCrory.

The search has also been marked by infighting between the full board and search committee members about the secrecy surrounding the search and interview process.

The leading candidate is believed to be 57-year-old Margaret Spellings, a former U.S. Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush.