Chris Buddo named provost

A musician, conductor, faculty member and former dean, Dr. J. Christopher Buddo has been appointed provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at East Carolina University by Chancellor Philip Rogers. The appointment is effective May 16.

Chris Buddo

Buddo has served as interim provost since October 2024 while continuing to teach in the School of Music. As provost, Buddo is responsible for the academic enterprise of the university, including admissions, the academic colleges and libraries, learner operations and student success programs.

“Dr. Buddo’s dedication to the university’s mission has been exemplary,” Chancellor Philip Rogers said. “He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our university’s academic ideals and has a deep understanding of ECU’s culture and vision for the future.

“In recent weeks, I’ve met with a wide array of university stakeholder groups and various leaders across campus. In those meetings, I heard strong support of Dr. Buddo as the right person to lead the university’s academic initiatives over the next few years, as well as an appreciation for his thoughtful and authentic leadership style.”

Buddo said he looks forward to continuing in the role, building upon the momentum of the R1 designation announcement during the spring semester.

“I am honored by the Chancellor’s confidence in me, and I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the institution in this way,” Buddo said.

Since joining the faculty as professor and director of the ECU School of Music in 2006, Buddo has filled several key academic leadership roles. He served as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication from 2013 to June 2021, after serving as interim dean during the 2012-13 academic year. As dean he provided leadership and administration oversight to the Schools of Art and Design, Communication, Music, and Theatre and Dance.

Prior to ECU, Buddo was on the faculty at the Baylor University School of Music, including eight years as associate dean for administrative affairs and director of the division of ensembles.

As a double bassist, he has performed with the Four Seasons Next Generation initiative at ECU, the North Carolina Opera, the Waco Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Carolina Ballet. He is a founding member of the New Carolina Sinfonia. As a conductor, Buddo has led ECU Opera Theater productions and the Iowa City Youth Orchestra and was the founding conductor of the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Buddo earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Arts degrees in double bass performance and pedagogy from the University of Iowa. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in double bass performance from James Madison University.