A Century of History

Lucille Thomson was the first woman to enroll in engineering. With an interest in radio, she enrolled in electrical engineering. There are conflicting accounts about if she graduated or not in 1923.

The Department of Chemical Engineering was formed by Dr. E. E. Randolph, reflecting the increasing importance of chemical research in North Carolina.

The Aeronautical Engineering Option was offered for the first time.

The School of Forestry was established, and in the following years, the Wood Products and Paper and Pulp Department was created. It is now called the Department of Paper Science and Engineering.

The Department of Geological Engineering was formed from the geology and mining departments.

The Department of Aeronautical Engineering was established.

School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) is 1,180.

The North Carolina Engineering Foundation, Inc., “a non-profit organization having for its purpose the development of the State through engineering education and research,” was formed by a group of 49 representative engineers, contractors, and industrialists interested in fostering and promoting ways of improving and developing engineering in North Carolina. (On May 3, 1999, the name changed to “NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc.”)

As part of the School of Engineering, the “State College Minerals Research Laboratory” (now called the Minerals Research Laboratory) began formal operations in Asheville.

School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) is 1,690.

Professor Frances M. “Billie” Richardson was the first woman faculty member hired in the School of Engineering in 1951 and was elected the first president of the Society of Women Engineers, North Carolina Section, in 1979. Also pictured is Dr. Frederick P. Pike, professor of chemical engineering. (Photo: 1951)

NC State’s School of Engineering today operated the world’s first nuclear reactor used for teaching, research and public service (first non-government nuclear reactor). One year later, NC State launched the nation’s only doctoral program in nuclear engineering.

First Ph.D in engineering was awarded to Ralph Marshall McGehee.

The first African-American graduate students enrolled in NC State: Hardy Liston in mechanical engineering and Robert L. Clemons in electrical engineering.

The first African-American undergraduate students entered NC State; all were engineering students. Walter Holmes enrolled in mechanical engineering with an aerospace option, and Irwin Holmes, Manuel Crockett and Edward Carson enrolled in electrical engineering.

Irwin Holmes was the first African American man to receive a bachelor’s degree from NC State (electrical engineering). He was also the first African American athlete at NC State and was captain of the tennis team.

The first PhD in civil engineering at NC State was awarded to Charles Fisher Page.

Ralph E. Fadum was named dean. He served as dean until 1978.

Anna Clyde Fraker became the first woman to receive a PhD in engineering at NC State (ceramic engineering, 1967) and the first woman to receive an advanced engineering degree of any kind at NC State.

The Department of Computer Science was established.

The first PhD in industrial engineering at NC State was awarded to Manmohan Krishan Wig.

The first PhD in materials engineering at NC State was awarded to Walter Jackson Lackey.

Arthur Eckels was released from some of his electrical engineering teaching duties to initiate the School of Engineering’s first minority engineering effort — that of fundraising for programs to recruit minority students. The school’s first summer program for minorities, held in 1973, was funded by General Electric and Western Electric, followed by funding from DuPont in 1974.

Byard Houck was named Director of Special Programs and created the Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE) summer program. MITE later merged with the Student Introduction to Engineering (SITE) program.

Sarah A. Rajala joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty and became the first woman PhD faculty member to join the College of Engineering.

George Bland became the first African American appointed as an Assistant Dean (Undergraduate Student Services, 1982) and as an Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs, 1985).

The first 2+2 program was established with the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Students complete their first one or two years in Asheville, then transfer to NC State.

The College established the Minority Engineering Programs when it hired Bobby Pettis as the first minority coordinator in 1982.

The University received a 780-acre tract of land from the State of North Carolina, part of the Dorothea Dix Hospital property. Plans called for a “Centennial Campus” to be built as a series of clusters with a mixture of academic buildings and private research buildings.

The School of Engineering changed its name to the College of Engineering.

Christine Grant became the first African-American woman faculty member hired in the College of Engineering and in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

The North Carolina Solar Center was established.

Sarah A. Rajala became the first woman to be named an associate dean in the College of Engineering. She was named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Women in Engineering Program was established.

The North Carolina Engineering Foundation, Inc. changed its name to the NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc.

Distance education in College of Engineering changed from being called Video-Based Engineering Education (VBEE) to Engineering Online.

The College of Engineering published the premier issue of Engineering Frontline, a publication for alumni and friends that combines news with the NC State Engineering Foundation annual report.

NC State University and UNC-Chapel Hill launched a new joint graduate degree program (master of science and doctor of philosophy degree programs) in biomedical engineering (approved by Board of Governors on May 30, 2003).

The College of Engineering joined forces with the College of Natural Resources to administer a BS degree in paper science and engineering, formerly a bachelor’s in pulp and paper science and technology; the new program was approved in November 2003.

Construction on Engineering Building I was completed. The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering began moving in.

Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) groundbreaking is held.

Alumnus Edward P. Fitts (IE ’61) gave $10 million to the Department of Industrial Engineering. The commitment, part of the University’s billion-dollar fundraising campaign, is the largest gift ever received by the College from an individual donor and the largest endowed gift to academics in NC State’s history.

Engineering Building II was dedicated.

The Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) opened, a unique center offering educational and training opportunities to develop skilled professionals for the biomanufacturing industry. BTEC is a major draw for biomanufacturing companies to come to North Carolina.

Centennial Campus celebrated 25 years.

Engineering Building III was dedicated.

The NSF ASSIST Nanosystems Engineering Research Center is announced, making NC State at the time the only institution in the nation with two active NSF ERCs.

North Carolinians voted to pass the Connect NC Bond referendum that ensured $77 million in public funding is available to build the Engineering Building Oval on March 15th. (Note: The Engineering Building Oval was renamed Fitts-Woolard Hall on April 20, 2018.)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center celebrates 10 years.

The move to Centennial Campus took a major step forward with the opening of Fitts-Woolard Hall. Eight of the nine departments have relocated, with nuclear engineering remaining in Burlington Labs along with the nuclear reactor.

A new NSF Science and Technology Center named Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) is announced. Directed by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering’s Jacob Jones, it will be headquartered on NC State’s Centennial Campus.

The new Plant Sciences Building located on Centennial Campus celebrates its grand opening. It will be home to Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS), a new NSF Center focusing on phosphorus sustainability.

Jim Pfaendtner is named the Louis Martin-Vega Dean of the College of Engineering following a nationwide search. His appointment became effective August 1.