Lambeth Named General Counsel, Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 24, 2026) – David T. Lambeth III, an accomplished higher education attorney and administrator with nearly a decade of broad legal, governance and compliance experience at one of the nation’s leading public research universities, has been appointed general counsel and vice chancellor for the Division of Legal Affairs, Risk and Compliance (DLARC) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Chancellor James R. Martin II announced.

Lambeth will join America’s largest historically Black college or university (HBCU) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he serves as associate vice chancellor and chief governance officer. He assumes his new role Aug. 3.

As North Carolina A&T’s chief legal officer, Lambeth will direct the full range of legal, risk and compliance functions that protect and advance the university’s mission, providing strategic advice and legal counsel to the chancellor, Board of Trustees and senior leadership team.

DLARC advises and represents the university across a broad portfolio — litigation, contracts and complex transactions, research law and intellectual property, employment, student affairs, regulatory compliance, government relations support, institutional governance and public records — that touches every corner of campus.

Lambeth’s appointment comes at a defining moment for A&T as it continues to expand its research enterprise, which has generated more than $200 million in contracts and grants over the past two years and advances toward the Carnegie Classification’s Research 1 research university designation. For a land-grant university that produces more Black STEM graduates than any other institution in America, the legal, compliance and risk environment has never been more complex or consequential.

“It’s an exciting and challenging time to work in higher education, particularly in legal affairs. David appreciates that, and has the experience and acumen to ensure North Carolina A&T is effectively represented in all legal matters,” said Martin. “His knowledge of the UNC System and experience at one of America’s top research institutions will be major assets for A&T. I’m delighted that he’ll be an important member of our senior leadership team.”

“I believe deeply in the value and mission of public research universities, and particularly land grant institutions. With the support of our partners in industry and government, I am confident that North Carolina A&T, its faculty and its graduates are uniquely positioned to continue to power the Triad region and beyond,” said Lambeth.  “I look forward to working with Chancellor Martin, the Board of Trustees and all of Aggie Nation.”

A Broad Legal and Strategic Background

Lambeth brings to A&T a deliberately broad legal and administrative background shaped by nearly a decade of service at UNC-Chapel Hill. In his current role there, he leads all governance functions for the institution’s Board of Trustees and other affiliated boards and committees, oversees compliance with North Carolina’s open government and public records requirements and counsels senior university leaders and trustees on high-profile legal matters, including many with significant public and governmental dimensions. He simultaneously serves as senior compliance advisor to the North Carolina Collaboratory and as a special counsel.

Lambeth’s previous UNC-Chapel Hill experience includes a stint as director of strategic research and compliance within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, where he worked closely with senior research administration leadership on matters ranging from research funding to organizational strategy to best administrative and legal practices.  He also played a pivotal role helping the university navigate the increasingly complex and shifting research regulatory environment.

Prior to that, Lambeth spent several years as an assistant and then associate university counsel in UNC-Chapel Hill’s Office of University Counsel, where he guided the university through complex litigation, regulatory and transactional matters. He began his career at Durham, North Carolina, law firm Bugg & Wolf, P.A.