UNC Greensboro conferred honorary doctorates to Light the Way campaign co-chairs Susan Safran ’77 and Randall Kaplan during the May 7 Doctoral and Master’s Commencement ceremony at First Horizon Coliseum.
Safran received an honorary doctor of science degree for her exceptional guidance in advanced learning in health care, emergency training, and higher education, enriching lives across North Carolina and beyond. Kaplan received an honorary doctor of laws degree for his visionary leadership, public service, and philanthropy, establishing a transformative impact on UNCG and North Carolina.
Under their leadership as co-chairs in the recently completed Light the Way campaign, the University raised over $266 million – surpassing its initial goal by 33% to become the most successful campaign in UNCG’s history. In 2022, North Carolina’s governor acknowledged the co-chairs’ notable service by awarding Safran and Kaplan the state’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Susan M. Safran ’77
The extraordinary achievements of School of Nursing alumna Susan Morris Safran have brought lasting distinction and support to UNCG. A devoted supporter of the University and its School of Nursing for decades, Safran exemplifies Spartan spirit through her generosity, steady leadership, and deep commitment to helping others succeed, says UNCG Board of Trustees chair George Hoyle ’90.
Safran’s distinguished career began in critical care nursing and health care management before she founded CPR Consultants, Inc., one of the nation’s earliest official American Heart Association Training Centers. Under her direction, the organization trained tens of thousands each year in lifesaving CPR skills – improving survival outcomes and saving lives across North Carolina and the United States. Her commitment to education and health care is evident in her work with the NC American Heart Association’s Advocacy Committee and the NC Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, where she influenced statewide emergency protocols. Her impact earned Safran statewide recognition as the American Heart Association’s North Carolina Advocate of the Year in 2006.
Safran was the first School of Nursing alumna appointed to UNCG’s Board of Trustees, serving as chair from 2014 to 2016 and helping guide UNCG through pivotal moments and long-term initiatives. She led the Chancellor Search Committee that appointed Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr., championed the $35 million Union Square Campus partnership, and played a key role in successfully advocating for the state-of-the-art Nursing and Instructional Building.
Through their substantial personal philanthropy, Safran and her husband, Perry, established the Safran Distinguished Professorship in Nursing and multiple endowed scholarships and program funds supporting nursing education, student access, and military veterans at UNCG. In 2019, Safran received the UNCG School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award for her professional excellence and advocacy.
“Susan Safran has achieved extraordinary success in her professional life and built an outstanding legacy as a leader in nursing, emergency medical education, and philanthropy,” says Chancellor Gilliam. “At every stage of her career, she has demonstrated UNCG’s motto of ‘Service,’ which is inextricably woven into the fabric of this institution and the lives of our graduates. Her legacy demonstrates the power of giving back to the community and making a difference in others’ lives.”
Randall Kaplan
Randall R. Kaplan’s visionary leadership and philanthropy have had a transformative impact on UNCG and North Carolina.
Mae Douglas ’73, chair of the UNCG Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee, says Kaplan has built a career and life defined by generosity, innovation, and a deep commitment to strengthening communities. A Greensboro native, Kaplan attended Brown University and the University of Michigan Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude. There he met his wife, the Honorable Kathy Manning, and established a partnership that has been central to his life of service.
After clerking on the U.S. Court of Appeals and practicing law in Washington, D.C., Kaplan returned home to Greensboro to lead Kay Chemical Company. He has continued to guide innovative ventures as both the CEO of Capsule Group and the founder of Elm Street Technology.
Kaplan has played a key role in public policy, economic growth, and civic life across the state, serving on the North Carolina Economic Development Board and the State and Local Fiscal Modernization Commission, and leading Progress North Carolina, a non-partisan organization dedicated to public policy education.
His commitment to public service reflects the values instilled by his parents, the late Leonard and Tobee Kaplan, pioneers in the Greensboro Jewish philanthropic community.
Although not a UNCG alumnus, Kaplan embraces the University as his own. In addition to co-chairing the Light the Way campaign, he has served on the Bryan School Advisory Board, the UNCG Foundation Executive Committee as president and vice president, the Students First Campaign Steering Committee, and the Investment Fund Committee. Kaplan was appointed to the UNCG Board of Trustees in 2007, served as chair from 2009 to 2012, and helped shape UNCG’s governance, infrastructure, and long-term planning.
Kaplan’s and his family’s generosity is evident across campus, with landmark gifts such as Kaplan Commons and the Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness, in addition to the Randall R. Kaplan Distinguished Professorship in Innovation, which supports cutting-edge faculty initiatives. The Kaplan Center will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year.
“Randall Kaplan has received numerous honors for his exemplary service, and his vision and dedication continue to enrich education and community life throughout the region,” says Chancellor Gilliam. “His leadership has helped shape UNCG’s present and future, and his remarkable legacy is one of unwavering vision, compassion, and enduring impact.”
By Jo Carol Torrez
Photos by Sean Norona ’13