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The Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy mourns the passing of Governor James B. Hunt Jr., a towering figure in North Carolina’s history and a leader whose vision reshaped public policy in our state for generations. Governor Hunt believed deeply in the power of public institutions to expand opportunity, strengthen democracy, and improve lives, especially through education, research, and evidence-based decision-making. Those commitments reflect the core ideals that guide Sanford’s teaching, research, and public service mission.
“Governor Hunt showed us what it looks like to lead with both ambition and humility,” said Interim Dean Manoj Mohanan, who also serves as a Board Member for The Hunt Institute. “He believed that good policy begins with rigorous evidence and a deep respect for the people it serves. His legacy lives on in North Carolina’s schools, its economy, and in the countless public servants he inspired to put the public good first.”
Governor Hunt’s connection to Sanford runs especially deep through The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Sanford School of Public Policy that he founded to ensure policymakers have access to trusted research, expert insight, and bipartisan dialogue. The Institute’s work continues his lifelong commitment to education as the foundation of opportunity and economic strength.
The statement below is shared from The Hunt Institute, honoring the life and legacy of its founder.
The Hunt Institute Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Founder Governor James B. Hunt Jr.
(Statement from The Hunt Institute, December 19, 2025)
Cary, N.C. — The Hunt Institute honors and celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of its founder, Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., who passed away today at age 88.
Governor Hunt devoted more than five decades to public service, guided by an unwavering belief that education is the cornerstone of opportunity, democracy, and economic strength. As North Carolina’s longest-serving governor, he reshaped the state’s education landscape, championing early childhood education through the creation of Smart Start, elevating teaching as a profession, and insisting that education policy be grounded in research, evidence, and long-term vision rather than politics, and advancing the state’s research-driven economy by supporting the growth of Research Triangle Park and its university–industry partnerships.
In 2001, Governor Hunt founded The Hunt Institute out of a simple but powerful conviction: state leaders deserve access to trusted research, leading experts, and bipartisan dialogue to make informed decisions on behalf of students. That vision continues today, as The Hunt Institute works with policymakers across the country to strengthen education systems and improve outcomes for learners at every stage.
“I can think of no one who shaped North Carolina’s recent successes as much as Governor Jim Hunt,” said North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, a Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellow. “His vision for educational excellence and expanding opportunity for every child crossed party lines, and his legacy will be honored through the work of The Hunt Institute.”
“Governor Hunt was our founder, our North Star, and our inspiration,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President and CEO of The Hunt Institute. “He believed that research, evidence, and bipartisan collaboration could change lives—and he built The Hunt Institute to carry that vision forward.
North Carolina and our nation have lost a giant,” he continued. “But his legacy lives on in every policy shaped by research, every teacher supported, and every student whose future is strengthened by education.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Hunt Institute, we mourn the passing of Governor Jim Hunt, a visionary leader whose lifelong commitment to improving education for all learners transformed opportunities across North Carolina and the nation,” said Secretary Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of Education and Hunt Institute Board Chair. “His dedication to education as the foundation of economic growth and civic strength will continue to guide and inspire our work.”
“Governor Jim Hunt set the standard for what it means to lead with education at the center of public service,” said Governor Susana Martinez, former Governor of New Mexico and Hunt Institute Board Vice Chair. “His vision, integrity, and unwavering belief in the power of education to strengthen communities and expand opportunity will continue to inspire governors and leaders for generations to come.”
About Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor Hunt served an unprecedented four terms as Governor of North Carolina (1977–1985 and 1993–2001). During his tenure, he:
- Created Smart Start, North Carolina’s nationally recognized early childhood education initiative
- Elevated the teaching profession and helped establish the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
- Led North Carolina students to some of the nation’s largest gains in academic achievement
- Prioritized education funding and expanded access to technology
- Chaired the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future
After leaving office, Governor Hunt founded The Hunt Institute in 2001 to extend his lifelong commitment to education by equipping state policymakers with nonpartisan research, expert guidance, and bipartisan dialogue.
Reflections from Sanford Faculty
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David Price, former US Congressman, Professor Emeritus of Political Science in the Sanford School of Public Policy
“Jim Hunt was the most consequential governor in North Carolina’s history, not only because of his unprecedented sixteen-year tenure, but because of the quality and focus of his leadership: excellence in public education, economic development with broad public benefits, effective and responsive state governance. He also inspired and mentored a generation of political leaders, among whom I am fortunate to count myself. I was his designee as state party director and then chair, and was staff director of the Commission on Presidential Nomination, which he chaired for the DNC. He led with vision and determination, and also with shrewd judgment and a gift for engaging others. He then generously offered counsel and encouragement throughout my time in public service. I am enormously in his debt and share in the grief across the state at his passing.”
Jenni Owen, Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy
“Governor Hunt taught me and so many others so much. Watching him in action, and he was always in action, could be transformative. Whenever he was talking with a person or group of people, he made it clear that in that moment, they were the most important people in the world.
That was true, whether he was at a childcare center, with a company CEO, or with a nation’s president. He was famously dedicated and determined to making life better for North Carolina’s youngest children while also fiercely competitive for the state’s economic wellbeing. He was adamant about the connections between the two.
I had the incredible personal and professional opportunity to work with Governor Hunt in his policy office during his fourth term as governor and immediately after he left office, to plan and launch The Hunt Institute. With the Institute, Governor Hunt’s decades of accomplishments in elected office led him to want all of the nation’s governors to learn together, work together, and achieve progress in education together.
When I had the great fortune to visit with Governor and Mrs. Hunt just over two years ago, the Governor was as dedicated as ever to making NC the best in every way. Governor James B. Hunt Jr. will forever be a legend, with a permanent legacy.”
Mac McCorkle, Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy
“Jim Hunt was the longest-serving Governor in North Carolina history. He was also our state’s most consequential Governor.
In his first two terms from 1977–1985, Jim Hunt reignited the modern progressive flame for North Carolina’s future started by his mentor Terry Sanford when he was Governor in the early 1960s. Then Jim Hunt came back for two more terms from 1993–2001 to keep North Carolina on a distinctive progressive path at a time when other Southern states were falling away.
He set an extraordinary standard of leadership and public service that may never again be equaled.”
Kenneth Dodge, William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Studies in the Sanford School of Public Policy
“Governor Hunt was my hero. He championed early childhood by creating the Smart Start Initiative, and he demanded rigorous evaluation. We partnered on several programs of the Center for Child and Family Policy. On a personal note, I recall when he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Duke University for his contributions to the citizens of North Carolina. He pushed his way through a crowd to ask me about my wife and children, calling them out by name. What a gift of memory and an even greater gift of caring for others.”