Curriculum Vitae

THOMAS W. ROSS
President of Davidson College, August 1, 2007–

Education
Preparatory: Greensboro Public Schools, Greensboro, N.C., Grimsley High School Graduate, 1968
College:  Davidson College, B.A., Political Science, 1972
Law School: University of North Carolina, 1972–1975, J.D. with Honors

Law Review Staff, 1974–1975           Order of Coif, 1975

Other:  National Judicial College

General Jurisdiction Course, 1985    Faculty Development Course, 1998

Employment
Honors and Awards
Community Activities
Professional Organizations and Activities
Publications 

Employment

Executive Director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Inc., 2001–2007
Director of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, 1999–2000
North Carolina Superior Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, 1984–2000
Chief of Staff to Congressman Robin Britt (D-NC), 1983–1984                       
Smith, Patterson, Follin, Curtis, James and Harkavy, Attorneys, Partner, 1976–1982
Assistant Professor Public Law and Government—School of Government, UNC-CH, 1975–1976

Honors and Awards

2005		UNC School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award
2001		Davidson College Distinguished Alumni Award
2000		William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence This is the highest award a state judge can receive, and is given annually to just one judge in the nation by the National Center for State Courts. It recognized Ross’s work on the N.C. Sentencing Commission, and his subsequent presentations about sentencing reform in more than thirty states nationwide.
1999		Order of the Long Leaf Pine This is North Carolina’s highest civilian award. It is presented by the governor, and recognized Ross’s service to the court system.
1999		Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Given to Eagle scouts who have distinguished themselves in their career and service to scouting. Ross chaired the Old North State Council Eagle Scout Board of Review from 1990-2001.
1999		Raleigh News and Observer “Tarheel of the Week” Award
1996		N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers Trial Judge of the Year Presented to one judge a year in recognition of service to the profession.
1995		Foundation for the Improvement of Justice Award This Georgia-based foundation selects up to ten people annually across the nation who have helped improve the justice system.
1994		Governing Magazine National Public Official of the Year A national publication focused on state government, the magazine selected Ross as one of ten public officials recognized for outstanding service.
1993		Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award Presented by the Old North State Council for Ross’s fourteen years service on the council’s executive committee.
1991		Special Honor by the Eagle Scout Class of 1991 Each new class of Eagle Scouts selects an adult leader to honor.
1984		Greensboro Jaycees Outstanding Young Man in Greensboro Award Presented by this organization of young professional civic leaders
1981		Greensboro Legal Secretaries Association Boss of the Year Award Ross was nominated for the honor by his longtime, beloved office manager and executive assistant, Ms. Pat Williamson. Williamson first worked for Ross in 1976, and she went to Washington with him when he served U.S. Representative Robin Britt in 1983-84. She also has worked with Ross at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for the past five years.

Community Activities 

Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, N.C.
University Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, N.C., 2006­–2007
First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, N.C., Member, 1963–2006         

Deacon 1985–1987 Moderator, Board of Deacons, 1987 Elder 1988–1990, 1992–1994, 1996–1998

Chair, Strategic Planning Committee, Governance Committee, Personnel Committee
Davidson College Board of Trustees Member, 2003 to Nominating Committee Chair, 2006–2007
Executive Committee, 2006–
Hueston Foundation Board of Trustees, 2004–
University of North Carolina at Greensboro         

Board of Trustees 2001–2007 Chair 2005–2007 Board of Visitors­ 1997–2001

University of North Carolina Board of Visitors, 2005-2007
North Carolina State Institute for Emerging Issues Advisory Board, 2003–
North Carolina New Schools Project Board of Directors  (appointed by the Governor), 2006–2007
Justice at Stake Board of Directors, 2005–2007
John R. Kernodle, Jr. Scholarship Fund, Board of Trustees, 1998– 
Center for Creative Leadership, Board of Center Associates,  1995–
Institute of Government Foundation Board of Directors, 1998–2004
Wake Forest University Board of Visitors, 2001–2004
Kenan Institute for the Arts Advisory Board, 2004–2005
University of North Carolina School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors,  2001–2006
Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center, Board of Directors, 2001–2003
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carolina Environmental Program Advisory Board,  2002–2006
NC Open Government Coalition Board of Directors, 2004–2006
University of Minnesota Institute on Criminal Justice Advisory Board,  1997–1998
Winston-Salem Echo Council, 2003–2005
North Carolina Community Development Initiative, Board of Directors, 2001–2003
Southern Conference Basketball Tournament Host Committee              

Vice Chair 1996–97 Chair 1997–98

Greensboro, N.C., Sports Council

Member 1989–2002   Board of Directors 1991–1992   Vice President 1992–94

Rotary Club of Winston-Salem  2001–2005
Crescent Rotary Club of Greensboro                

Member 1982–2001 Paul Harris Fellow 1990

Boy Scouts of America—Old North State Council

Executive Council Member 1987–2001 Eagle Scout Board of Review Member 1988–2001 Chair 1990–2001

Summit House, Inc.       
Greensboro Board of Directors, 1986–1989
State Board of Governors

Member 1994–1997 Chair 1994–1995 Vice Chair 1995–1996

Institute of Criminal Justice, State Corrections Planning Grant Steering Committee Cochair, 1994–2000
Guilford County Community Corrections Commission

Member 1991–1999 Vice Chair 1991–1993 Chair 1993–1995

Guilford County Jail Advisory Commission

Member 1988–1991 Vice Chair 1990–1991

Guilford County Corrections Coalition, Member and Chair, 1986–1988
City of Greensboro Committee on the Reduction Crime and Violence, 1992–1993
Greensboro Coalition on Substance Abuse Steering Committee and Member, 1986–1987
Guilford County Substance Abuse Study Commission, Member and Chair, 1987–1988
Guilford County Substance Abuse Unification Committee, 1989–1990
LINKS Adolescent Substance Abuse Program, Board of Directors, 1989–1992
Davidson College

President, Greensboro Chapter Alumni Association 1988–1989 Class Chair, Living Endowment Campaign 1978–1980

Guilford County Democratic Party Chair, 1981–1983
Central Carolina Legal Services, Inc. 

Board of Directors 1979–1982  President 1981–1982

Legal Services of North Carolina, Board of Directors, 1982
Governor's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Policy Board, 1982–1983

Professional Organizations and Activities

Admitted to practice Law

North Carolina Supreme Court and all lower courts, 1975 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1979 United States Supreme Court, 1979

North Carolina Legislative State and Local Fiscal Modernization Study Commission, 2006 –     
North Carolina Commission for the Modernization of State Finances,  Chair (appointed by the Governor), 2002
North Carolina Actual Innocence Commission  (appointed by Chief Justice), 2003– 
North Carolina Public Campaign Financing Fund Advisory Council (appointed by Governor) , 2003–
North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, Chair (appointed by the Chief Justice), 1990–1999
Vera Institute of Justice, New York, New York
National Associates Program on Sentencing and Corrections, Advisory Board Chair,  1998–2001
National Associates Programs, Advisory Board Chair, 2002–2007
American Law Institute, Model Sentencing Code Project Advisory Board,  2002 — 
Stanford University School of Law Executive Sessions on Sentencing and Corrections Reform,  2007 — 
Justice System Journal Editorial Board,  2004–2007
Southeastern Council on Foundations Board of Directors , 2005–2007
Hispanics in Philanthropy Board of Directors, 2004–2007
Conference of State Court Administrators, Member, 1999–2000
Therapeutic Justice Task Force, 2000
Policy and Liaison Committee, 1999–2000
North Carolina General Assembly Judicial Selection Study Commission (appointed by the Chief Justice), 1988–1989
U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance Structured Sentencing Project Advisory Group, 1992–1994
National Conference of State Trial Judges Committee on Sentencing and Corrections, 1987–1989
North Carolina Mental Health Study Commission, Jails Committee, 1990
North Carolina Judicial Conference

Member 1994–2000 Chair, Committee on Judicial Salaries and Benefits and the Resources of the Judiciary 1994–1999

Conference of Superior Court Judges

Member 1984–2000 Civil Pattern Jury Committee 1988–2000 Chair, Education Committee 1997–1999 Chair, Committee on Probation and Corrections 1988–1994

Primary Instructor for New Judges School, 1986–2000
American Bar Association 

Member 1975– Judicial Administration Section 1988–

President’s Commission on the 21st Century Judiciary—2003–2004

North Carolina Bar Association Member 1975– Vice President 1997–1998 Cochair, State Young Lawyers Committee on Law and the Aging 1980–1981 Bench, Bar, Law School Liaison Committee 1987–1989 Dispute Resolutions Committee 1990–1992 Nominating Committee 1991–1992 Administration of Justice Committee 2001– Judicial Independence Committee 2003–

North Carolina State Bar Committee on Professionalism, 1987–1990
Greensboro Bar Association

Member 1976–2002 Judiciary Committee 1989–1990

Forsyth County Bar Association Member, 2002–2005
15B Judicial District Bar Association Member, 2005–

Publications

R. Mosteller, D. Beskind, T. Ross, C. Eagles and E. Inwinkelried, North Carolina Evidentiary Foundations, Lexis Law Publishing (1998), Second Edition (2005).

Note, Labor Law—Preemption of State Damage Remedies for Discharge, 53 N.C.L. Rev. 571 (1975).

Note, Constitutional Law—Procedural Due Process in Prison Disciplinary Proceeding—The Supreme Court Responds, 53 N.C.L. Rev. 793 (1975).

T. Ross, Boards of Health in North Carolina, A Guidebook for Board Members, Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1976.

T. Ross and S. Katzenelson, Crime and Punishment in North Carolina: Severity and Costs under Structured Sentencing, Federal Sentencing Reporter, Vol. II, Number 4, January/February, 1999.