College of Engineering Timeline

1887

March 7th, after years of debate, legislation was passed establishing the “North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts” (N.C. Senate 29-13). Engineering departments were established.

1889

October 3rd, the College opened for classes. After a long, hard battle to obtain the Federal grant made available for the revolutionary idea of higher education for the working class, the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (A. and M. College, now NC State University) opened its doors. Alexander Q. Holladay was named as the first President. The first student enrolled was Walter J. Matthews, mechanic arts (engineering).

1892

In September, Dr. Wallace Carl Riddick Jr. joined the faculty of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts as professor of mechanics and applied mathematics at a salary of $1,500 per year. He was ecstatic. He wrote in a letter to his sweetheart, “Come on and marry me, Lilly. They’re paying me so much money I’ll never spend it all.” And she did.

1893

The first graduating class at N.C. State was in 1893 with 19 graduates: 14 completed the course work in “mechanics” (“mechanic arts” or “engineering”) to receive the BE degree (Bachelor of Engineering), and the remaining 5 received degrees in agriculture.

1895

Wallace Carl Riddick was the College’s first professor of civil engineering. He became head of the Department of Civil Engineering and served until 1908.

1898

Dr. Riddick served as the first football coach of NC State. While studying engineering at Lehigh University in the late 1880’s, Riddick learned the game of football. Wake Forest College paid his way home at Easter vacation to teach them the game, for this was a new game south of the Mason-Dixon line. On the basis of this arrangement, Riddick claimed to be the first paid football coach in North Carolina.

1899

George T. Winston became the second President of N.C. State. During his tenure, textiles courses were added.

1908

Daniel H. Hill was elected the third President, and Riddick was elected Vice President of the college (during this time he continued to teach civil engineering courses as a professor of hydraulics).

1910

Winston Hall was the first building primarily devoted to engineering activities; namely, electrical engineering, civil engineering, and the chemical department of the State Experiment Station.

1912

The football stadium was named in honor of Riddick, who had served as football coach in 1898 and 1899 and served for many years as a member of the Athletics Council.

1916

Riddick was named fourth President of the college. He served until 1923. During his administration, he was instrumental in its reorganization (the name was changed to North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering), dividing it into schools with deans in charge to accommodate rapid program expansion and increased enrollment. The total number of degrees awarded by the College reaches 1,000. Another report says Wallace C. Riddick became president in 1917.

1917

March 2nd, the College name changed from the “North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts” to the “North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering.”

1918

The North Carolina Society of Engineers was organized with charter member Wallace Carl Riddick serving as one of the key organizers. He served as the society’s second president and for three consecutive terms.

1921

• Lucille Thomson became the first woman ever to enroll at NC State. She enrolled in electrical engineering.
• It is a widely held belief that Katharine Stinson was the first woman to receive an engineering degree from NC State (BSME with aeronautical option, 1941). However, many believe Lucille Thomson was the first woman ever to enroll at NC State. She enrolled in 1921 (electrical engineering). While some records indicate she married and left college before earning her degree, other records say she graduated. Alumnus Dan Stewart, Class of 1923, said he distinctly recalls that Lucille graduated with his class.

1923

• Eugene Clyde Brooks became President of NC State.
• Lucille Thomson (according to some records) becomes the first woman ever to graduate (or to get an engineering degree) from NC State. [See 1921 Lucille Thomson entry.]
• May 28th, The School of Engineering was formed, and Riddick was named the first dean (Wallace C. Riddick, Jr., dean from 1923-1937), following his expressed desire to take on this role. The School consisted of the Electrical Engineering Department, Civil Engineering Department, Physics Department, Textile Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
  • During Riddick’s leadership, the school grew to include 12 departments, and the Engineering Experiment Station was established. Riddick, who organized the North Carolina Society of Engineering and the Raleigh Engineers Club, remained Dean of Engineering until he retired in 1937.
• June 9th, The “Engineering Experiment Station” was established by NC State’s Board of Trustees.

1924

• Departments that were precursors to materials science and engineering were formed in the 1920s. These were Ceramic Engineering (1924), Mining Engineering (1925), and Geology (1927).
• The Department of Chemical Engineering was formed by Dr. E. E. Randolph, reflecting the increasing importance of chemical research in North Carolina.

1929

• 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.

1930

• School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was 685.
• The Industrial Engineering department was established. The first record of I.E. as a curriculum at NC State appears in the spring 1930 college catalog.

1931

March 27th, The Consolidation Act passed, changing NC State’s name from the “North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering” to the “North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering of the University of North Carolina.”

1933

• N.M. York became the first editor of Southern Engineer magazine, produced by the Engineers’ Council. (In the 1980s the magazine was renamed NC State Engineer.)
• The first IE degrees were granted to Henry K. Saunders and Harold E. Thomason.

1934

Col. John W. Harrelson became President of NC State, but he choose the title “Dean of Administration” instead of President. The title was later changed to Chancellor.

1935

The Department of Geological Engineering was formed from the geology and mining departments. (Courses in metallurgy in the years before 1954 were taught in the Department of Mechanical Engineering by W.W. Austin.)

1937

• Wallace Carl Riddick, Jr. retired as Dean of Engineering after 14 years of service.
• Dean Blake Ragsdale Van Leer became dean. He served until 1942, when he left on military leave. During Van Leer’s tenure, he established a service division in Diesel and Internal Combustion Engineering.
• More departments were established: Industrial, Ceramics, Math, Architectural, Geological, and Agricultural. The first graduate work in Engineering was offered: engineering mechanics and strength of materials. [Narrative book says 1930, not 1937.]
• First accreditation of engineering curricula: ceramic, civil, electrical, mechanical.
• First honorary engineering degree was given at NC State: Arthur Ernest Morgan, Doctor of Engineering.

1940

The Department of Aeronautical Engineering was established. School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was 1,180.

1941

• Wallace Carl Riddick received the Award for Outstanding Achievement from the North Carolina Society of Engineers in recognition of 50 years of “most commendable service” to the State of North Carolina.
• One of the most significant contributions to the war effort is the Diesel Program, developed by the Mechanical Engineering Department to train naval officers.
• Katharine Stinson was the first woman to receive an engineering degree from NC State (BSME with aeronautical option, 1941), according to some records. However, see note under 1921 regarding Lucille Thomson. She was later the first woman engineer hired by the Civil Aviation Administration.

1942

• Blake Ragsdale Van Leer resigned his position as Dean of Engineering for military leave.
• L.L. Vaughan was named Acting Dean (“acting” was the term for “interim” at that time). He served 3 years. During Vaughan’s term (1) Army Special Team Program was conducted at Engineering School (one of four ASTP Centers in US to have an advanced engineering program); (2) NC State became the only engineering school in the South to conduct the Pratt-Whitney Fellows Program to train women as engineering aides; (3) US Bureau of Mines Laboratory was established in the School of Engineering (building transferred to NCSU in 1957); (4) groundwork was laid for establishment of a minerals research laboratory in western part of the state.

1944

[This date is listed as Fall 1942 by University Archives.] 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.”)

1945

• In April, L.L. Vaughan stepped down as Dean of Engineering.
• In April, J. Harold Lampe became Dean and went on to serve 17 years, the longest tenure of any Dean of Engineering at NC State. During Lampe’s years of service (1) among curricula developed to serve special industrial needs were furniture manufacturing and management, construction, heating and air conditioning, and nuclear engineering (aeronautical engineering became an option in the Mechanical Engineering department); (2) department of Engineering Research, Industrial Extension Service, Department of Mineral Industries, Department of Nuclear Engineering, and Engineering Placement Office were established; and (3) three major buildings are constructed: Riddick Engineering Laboratories, Broughton Hall, and Burlington Nuclear Engineering Laboratories.

1946

• June 4th, The Engineering Experiment Station was renamed “Department of Engineering Research” by action of the Board of Trustees.
• July 29th, as part of the School of Engineering, the “State College Minerals Research Laboratory” (now called the Minerals Research Laboratory) began formal operations in Asheville.

1949

• Ralph E. Fadum became head of Civil Engineering.
• In June, Dr. Clifford K. Beck of Oak Ridge accepted the offer to head the Physics Department and proceeded to work on a proposal for a nuclear reactor at NC State College. The initial draft was completed July 5, 1949, and was later revised on March 30, 1950.
• In September, Dr. Clifford K. Beck began his term as Physics Department Head. During his tenure (1) Daniels Hall space was renovated for physics, (2) approval to proceed with reactor design was secured from the AEC, (3) appropriation of $50,000 was granted by the 1949 General Assembly, (4) a curriculum in nuclear engineering, with full undergraduate, “fifth-year,” and master’s programs, were devised and approved.

1950

• School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was 1,690.
• During the summer, Dr. Raymond L. Murray joined the Physics staff (Physics was in the School of Engineering at that time) at NC State College. He served as head of the Nuclear Engineering Department from fall 1963 through spring 1974.
• Beginning fall semester, the newly organized nuclear engineering curriculum was placed into operation, and the first courses in nuclear engineering were given.
• Plans for construction of a building to house the 10-kW nuclear reactor on the campus of NC State College were completed, and construction of the reactor and laboratory building was begun. The Burlington Mills Textile Foundation contributed $200,000 for the project.
• Riddick Engineering Laboratories building was named in memory of Dr. Wallace Carl Riddick.
• Frances M. “Billie” Richardson became the first woman faculty member in the School of Engineering at NC State.

1952

The Advisory Council of the School of Engineering was formed, comprising a 15-member group of leaders from the State’s industrial, professional, and community life.

1953

• Carey H. Bostian became President/Chancellor of NC State.
• First Ph.D in engineering was awarded to Ralph Marshall McGehee.
• The first African-American graduate students enrolled at North Carolina State. Hardy Liston (mechanical engineering) and Robert L. Clemons (electrical engineering). (Clemons became the first African American to receive a degree from the university when he received a professional degree in electrical engineering in May 1957. See 1957 below. Hardy Liston withdrew.)
• March 5th, The School of Engineering Advisory Council held its first organizational meeting. Maurice Hill, president of Drexel Furniture Company, Drexel, NC, was elected first chairman.
• September 5th, 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.

1954

• The first PhDs in ceramic engineering at NC State were awarded to William C. Hackler and Albert D. Indyk.
• The first PhD in chemical engineering at NC State was awarded to James K. Ferrell.
• The first PhDs in nuclear engineering at NC State were awarded to Robert Howell Bryan and Hervasio Guimaroes de Carvolho (arguably the first Hispanic student to receive a PhD at NC State).
• July 1, 1954, the Minerals Research Laboratory (MRL) became the responsibility of the School of Engineering.
• In 1954, the departments of Ceramic Engineering, Geological Engineering, and the Metallurgy Program in Mechanical Engineering were merged to form the Department of Mineral Industries with W.W. Austin as head. Separate degree programs were retained in ceramics, geology, and metallurgy.

1956

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.

1957

Robert L. Clemons became the first African American to receive a degree from NC State, when he received a professional degree in electrical engineering. (See also 1953.)

1958

The Research Triangle Institute at Research Triangle Park was established by NC State, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill.

1959

John T. Caldwell became chancellor.

1960

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.

1961

• The first woman to receive an advanced degree in engineering from NC State was Anna Clyde Fraker (MS in metallurgical engineering) (See also 1967.)
• Harold Lamonds was named the first head of the Nuclear Engineering Department; he served until 1963.
• The engineering mathematics degree, formerly offered through the Department of Mathematics in the School of Engineering, shifted to Physical and Mathematical Sciences (PAMS). The last mention in University Archives for that degree as being actually awarded was in the 1961 commencement program.

1962

• The first PhD in civil engineering at NC State was awarded to Charles Fisher Page.
• In June, J. Harold Lampe stepped down as Dean of Engineering after 17 years of service, the longest term for any Dean of Engineering at NC State.
• In June, Ralph E. Fadum was named Dean of Engineering. During his tenure, 1962-1978, (1) the Center for Acoustical Studies, the Water Resources Research Institute, the Engineering Design Center, and the Center for Marine and Coastal Studies were established; (2) the Department of Mechanical Engineering broadened to include Aerospace Engineering; (3) the Department of Engineering Mechanics and the Department of Materials Engineering were established; and (4) the Cooperative Engineering Education Program and Engineer-in- Residence Program were initiated.

1963

May 10th, NC State’s name changed from the “North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering of the University of North Carolina” to “North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh.” [Odd, but true, as if a word is missing after “State.” This cumbersome name lasted only two years.]

1964

• The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), a joint federal-state program for the UNC System, was established at NC State. The Dean of Engineering serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WRRI. [Note, University Archives says it was 1965, not 1964.]
• A new degree was established: the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. Long before that, NC State offered an aeronautical option within the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program.

1965

• The first PhDs in mechanical engineering at NC State were awarded to Ozer Ali Arnas, Charles Team Carley, Tuncer Cebeci and Franklin Delano Hart.
• School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was 3,365.
• July 1st, NC State’s name changed from the cumbersome “North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh” to “North Carolina State University at Raleigh.”

1966

• James K. Ferrell became head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, which he carefully nurtured to national prominence during his tenure until 1980.
• During Ferrell’s tenure he (1) established within the College of Engineering the Eos computer system, (2) helped organize the Triangle University Computation Center that linked NC State, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill in one of the world’s largest university computing centers, (3) directed energy and environmental research programs in the College of Engineering, (4) and later served as the college’s associate dean of research and interim dean of engineering.

1967

• 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.
• Geological Engineering left the Department of Mineral Industries to become the Department of Geosciences, in what is now the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
• The Department of Computer Science was established.

1968

The first PhD in engineering mechanics at NC State was awarded to Larry Herbert Royster.

1969

• The Center for Acoustical Studies was founded by Franklin D. Hart.
• The Department of Mineral Industries name was changed to Materials Engineering, and the distinctions between ceramics and metallurgy degrees was removed.

1970

• 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.

1972

The first PhD in operations research at NC State was awarded to Sanji Arisawa.

1973

• The Nuclear Reactor Program was established.
• 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.

1975

• Hubert Winston became the first African American to receive a doctoral degree in chemical engineering. He also had the distinction of being the first African-American faculty member in the College of Engineering and in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
• School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was 3,702.

1976

• Joab L. Thomas became chancellor.
• 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.

1978

• By 1978 NC State was running the largest minority engineering summer programs in the nation after only five years of recruiting and fundraising efforts.
• The Institute for Transportation Research and Education was established.
• June 30th, Ralph E. Fadum stepped down as Dean of Engineering after 16 years of service, the second longest term for any Dean of Engineering at NC State.
• July 1st, alumnus Larry K. Monteith became Dean of Engineering and served until 1989, with the following accomplishments during his tenure: (1) Establishment of numerous interdisciplinary industry/education research centers, including the Center for Communications and Signal Processing, the Center for Engineering Application of Radioisotopes, the Center for Transportation Engineering Studies, the Center for Precision Engineering, the Applied Energy Research Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Center, and the Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Institute; (2) Increased emphasis on developing graduate programs, computing facilities, television and video-based engineering education, and recruitment of minority students; (3) Development of high technology programs and acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment, such as those in the Solid-State Laboratories; Microelectronics Research Program, and Materials Research Center; (4) Development of plans for the Engineering Graduate Research Center for the new Centennial Campus; (5) Precision Engineering Center’s receipt of a $5 million grant—the largest direct research ever won by the University up to that time; (6) the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering’s receipt of a $1.7 million per year grant for a research and graduate education program in hypersonics aerodynamics.

1979

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

1980

• School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was 5,406.
• June 5th, The Center for Engineering Applications of Radioisotopes was established.
• September 1st, The Center for Transportation Engineering Studies was established.

1981

• Hans Conrad was appointed head of Materials Engineering.
• The Microelectronics Center for North Carolina was established (“at NC State” says University Archives).

1982

• Bruce R. Poulton became chancellor.
• The Center for Communications and Signal Processing (CCSP) was established. (In 1995 it became the Center for Advanced Computing and Communications.)
• 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.

1983

November 23rd, The Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Institute was established.

1984

• January 2nd, The Applied Energy Research Laboratory was established.
• July 20th, The Materials Research Center was established.
• July 20th, 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.

1985

• John Hren became the department head for Materials Engineering.
• The first PhD in aerospace engineering at NC State was awarded to Alan Wade Wilhite.
• January 1st, The Electric Power Research Center was established.

1986

• In keeping with national trends, the Department of Materials Engineering name was changed to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
• The Precision Engineering Center was established (March 14th)
• The Engineering Undesignated (EU) program began formal operations.

1987

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

1988

• The Mars Mission Research Center was established (according to University Archives, but College of Engineering records show 1989).
• Administrative responsibility for the Department of Computer Science transferred from the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (PAMS) to the College of Engineering (July 18th).

1989

• Christine Grant became the first African-American woman faculty member hired in the College of Engineering and in the Department of Chemical Engineering. William (Bill) Isler became the first African American to hold the position of Assistant Dean for Research Programs (1989) and later Associate Dean for Research Programs (1991).
• The NSF Engineering Research Center for Advanced Electronic Materials Processing was established (August 19th).
• The Mars Missions Research Center was established (August 25th).
• September 30th, Larry K. Monteith resigned as Dean of Engineering to become interim chancellor of NC State University. He became chancellor in May 1990 and served until July 1998.
• October 1st, James K. Ferrell was named Interim Dean of Engineering.

1990

In May, Interim Chancellor Larry K. Monteith became Chancellor.

1991

• School of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was 7,236.
• February 1, The Pollution Prevention Research Center was established.
• July 1, Dr. James K. Ferrell began serving as Director of the Center for Waste Minimization and Management (Pollution Prevention Center).
• July 22, James K. Ferrell stepped down as Interim Dean of Engineering.
• July 23, Wilbur L. Meier Jr. was named Dean of Engineering

1992

• January 1, The Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines was established.
• January 1, The Center for Transportation and the Environment was established.
• May 8, The Power Semiconductor Research Center was established.
• July 1, The Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center was established.

1993

• June 30th, Wilbur L. Meier Jr. stepped down as Dean of Engineering.
• July 1st, Tildon H. Glisson was named Interim Dean of Engineering.
• September 10th, The North Carolina Solar Center was established.
• October 8th, The Center for Nuclear Power Plant Structures, Equipment and Piping was established.

1994

• June 20th, The Transportation Materials Research Center was established.
• June 30th, Tildon H. Glisson stepped down as Interim Dean of Engineering.
• July 1st, Ralph K. Cavin III became Interim Dean of Engineering.
• August 1st, Ralph K. Cavin III became Dean of Engineering.
• In October, groundbreaking for the Engineering Graduate Research Center was held.
• November 2nd, The NC Ergonomics Resource Center was established.

1995

• August 22nd, The Center for Advanced Computing and Communications (CACC) reformed from the former Center for Communications and Signal Processing, established in 1982.
• December 31st, Ralph K. Cavin III stepped down as Dean of Engineering.

1996

• NC State’s College of Engineering offered the state’s first online, real-time, Internet-based distance-education class to students at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The class was a graduate-level course in ergonomics.
• 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.
• January 1st, John G. Gilligan was named Interim Dean of Engineering.
• July 31st, John G. Gilligan stepped down as Interim Dean of Engineering.
• August 1st, Nino A. Masnari became Dean of Engineering.

1997

• In August, the Women in Engineering Program was established.
• October 14th, the Grand Opening of the Engineering Graduate Research Center (EGRC) was held.
• In December, The Silicon Wafer Engineering and Defect Science (SiWEDS) Center, an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (NSF I/UCRC) ( unofficially established in February 1996) became a formal NSF I/UCRC.

1998

• A 2+2 program was established with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
• In July, Larry K. Monteith stepped down as Chancellor; Marye Anne Fox became NC State’s first woman chancellor.
• August 14th, the Kenan Center for the Utilization of Carbon Dioxide in Manufacturing was established as an official center jointly administered by NC State University and the UNC-Chapel Hill, with a special partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

1999

• May 3rd, The North Carolina Engineering Foundation, Inc. changed its name to the NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc.
• July 30th, the Science and Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes was established.
• November 16th, Michael J. Rigsbee named head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

2000

• In November, the people of North Carolina passed an educational bond issue that provided more than $468 million for the renovation and construction of almost thirty academic buildings on the NC State campus. The bond referendum was a critical step in achieving the College of Engineering’s goal of relocating the entire college to Centennial Campus.
• December 8th, the Network Technology Institute (NTI) was established. Formerly named Multimedia Lab since March 13, 1998.

2001

January 16th, NC State announces the establishment of the Networking Technology Institute (NTI), directed by Dennis Kekas.

2002

• January 1st, Ayman I. Hawari appointed director of the Nuclear Reactor Program.
• In March, NC State University was designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency; Dr. Annie Anton is involved.
• March 4th, Linda D. Krute appointed director of distance education programs.
• In June, Yusef Fahmy named director of NC State’s Engineering programs at UNC-Asheville.
• June 17th, NC Ergonomics Resource Center reformulated; previously Ergonomics Center of North Carolina since November 2, 1994.
• In July, distance education in College of Engineering changed from being called Video-Based Engineering Education (VBEE) to Engineering Online.
• October 14th, Sarah A. Rajala was named associate dean for research and graduate programs, replacing John G. Gilligan, who was named vice chancellor of research and graduate studies for the university.
• October 25th, formal groundbreaking for Engineering Building I took place on Centennial Campus.

2003

• In January, the College of Engineering published the first issue of Engineering Frontline, a publication for alumni and friends that combines news with the NC State Engineering Foundation annual report.
• January 1st, Richard F. Keltie was appointed associate dean of academic affairs, replacing Sarah A. Rajala, who had served as associate dean of academic affairs since August 1996.
• January 1st, H. Troy Nagle was named interim head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
• January 1st, Robert J. Trew was named head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, replacing John R. Hauser, who had served as interim head since August 16, 2001.
• January 17th, the Industrial Extension Service (IES) celebrated the grand opening of their first county-funded extension office, which is in Williamston.
• April 24th, the Cyber Defense Laboratory in the Department of Computer Science opened.
• May 2nd, the Department of Civil Engineering was renamed the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering.
• May 30th, joint master of science and doctor of philosophy degree programs in biomedical engineering at NC State University and UNC-Chapel Hill were approved with programs to begin in August 2003.
• July 1st, Yahya Fathi appointed co-director of Operations Research, replacing Xiuli Chao.
• July 12th, Teresa A. Helmlinger was inaugurated as the first woman president of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). She is also the first engineer from North Carolina to hold the office.
• In August, 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).
• September 12th, the Center for Embedded Systems Research (CESR) was established.
• October 24th, a groundbreaking ceremony for Engineering Building II took place on Centennial Campus.
• December 1st, H. Troy Nagle was named interim founding chair of the new joint Department of Biomedical Engineering with UNC Chapel Hill.

2004

• In January, 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.
• January 1st, Hien T. Tran (Professor of Mathematics) started his term as the new co-director of Operations Research, serving along with Yahya Fathi.
• January 20th, NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill opened the Triangle National Lithography Center (TNLC), a nanotechnology center, on NC State’s Centennial Campus.
• February 1st, H. Troy Nagle became Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
• In April, the College of Engineering added Craven Community College’s new Havelock campus to its list of Two-Plus-Two program partners. The new program offers a BSE with a concentration in mechanical engineering.
• May 1st, Peter K. Kilpatrick was appointed director of the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC); he continued to serve as head of the Department of Chemical Engineering until he stepped down in 2007.
• June 30th, Alan L. Tharp stepped down as department head of Computer Science; he had served as head since 1993.
• In July, the College of Engineering formed an agreement with Meredith College to establish a dual degree program (three years at Meredith, two years at NC State).
• July 1st, Mladen A. Vouk began serving as interim head of Computer Science.
• August 16th, Richard D. Gould named interim head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, replacing Mohammed Noori, who had served as head since November 1999.
• In September, 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.
• September 16th, the Department of Chemical Engineering was renamed the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
• In December, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering vacated Riddick Engineering Laboratories and moved to Engineering Building I on Centennial Campus.

2005

• In January, The Ross W. Lampe Family of Smithfield established a $1 million “Lampe Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• In January, the Department of Nuclear Engineering is expected to get a research center of excellence as part of a $4.8 billion multi-institutional project to establish the Idaho National Laboratory.
• January 1st, James L. Oblinger became NC State’s 13th chancellor.
• In February, two Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering faculty members were elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE): Carol K. Hall and Joseph M. DeSimone.
• In March, the Engineering Graduate Research Center (EGRC) was renamed the Larry K. Monteith Engineering Research Center (MRC).
• In April, The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded $5.4 million to the College of Engineering as part of the foundation’s $9.3 million Aerospace Alliance Initiative, which will help the College establish a Center of Excellence for Certification and help businesses make parts for aging military aircraft, with initial focus on Cherry Point.
• April 22nd, a dedication ceremony for Engineering Building I was held.
• In June, the Department of Industrial Engineering vacated Riddick Engineering Laboratories and moved to Daniels Hall.
• June 2nd, the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) groundbreaking is held.
• July 1st, George F. List named head of the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, replacing E. Downey Brill Jr., who served as head since 1988.
• August 17th, the first floor of Engineering Building II opened just in time for fall classes.
• September 23rd, 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. In his honor, the department is renamed the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial Engineering. (See also February 16, 2006.)
• In October, the gutting of Riddick Labs began. The renovated building will house the Physics Department and provide teaching space for the Department of Animal Science.
• October 5th, the Engineering Graduate Research Center (EGRC) was renamed the Larry K. Monteith Engineering Research Center (MRC) in a dedication ceremony.
• December 16th, Steve Kalland was named Executive Director of the North Carolina Solar Center.2006
• December 16th, an NC State engineer helped invent a filter that removes a human form of Mad Cow Disease from blood.
• December 16th, The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded $5.4 million to the COE as part of an Aerospace Alliance Initiative.

2006

• In January, NC State University and IBM announced a new curriculum initiative in Services Sciences, Management and Engineering (SSME). The joint endeavor involving the Colleges of Engineering and Management made NC State the first research university in the U.S. to launch a master’s-level curriculum initiative in SSME.
• February 16th, the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering became NC State’s first named academic department.
• April 28th, Engineering Building II was dedicated.
• August 6th, Nino A. Masnari stepped down as Dean of Engineering. He served 10 years in that capacity.
• August 7th, Louis A. Martin-Vega became the first Hispanic dean at NC State, boosting the College of Engineering’s rankings and research funding.
• November 1st, John S. Strenkowski was appointed associate dean for research, replacing Sarah A. Rajala, who had served as associate dean for research since October 2002.

2007

• 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.
• The Department of Computer Science and the College of Design joined forces to form Design Tech, a collaboration for research. The NSF provided funding for three years of their Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program to work with the project.
• The College of Engineering received the first US large-format Electron Beam Melting (EBM) machine.
• August 16th, Richard D. Gould was named head of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He had served as interim head since July 2004.
• August 16th, Paul H. Cohen was named the Edgar S. Woolard Distinguished Professor and head of the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, replacing James R. Wilson, who had served as head of the department since 1999.
• October 17th, engineering alumnus Dr. Rajendra Pachauri shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore for environmental protection.
• October 20th, NC State’s PULSTAR nuclear reactor produced the world’s most intense low-energy positron (antimatter electron) beam.

2008

• NC State was awarded the FREEDM Systems Center, an NSF Engineering Research Center.
• Collaboration with the College of Veterinary Medicine produced the world’s first osseointegrated leg implant for a dog.
• ATEC (Advanced Transportation Energy Center) was created and given a grant by the state.
• January 1st, Peter S. Fedkiw was named head of the chemical and biomolecular engineering, replacing Peter K. Kilpatrick, who had served as department head since January 2000.
• January 1st, Christine Grant was named associate dean for faculty development and special initiative. The new position was created to provide support for faculty in the College of Engineering.
• January 22nd, the Operations Research Program gained a top ten ranking.
• March 9th, three NC State professors were honored on a list of “One Hundred Engineers of the Modern Era.”
• In April, the college opened the Secure Open Systems Initiative (SOSI) on Centennial Campus, a collaborative effort to improve open-systems-related security and technology.
• June 1st, Yousry Y. Azmy was named head of nuclear engineering, replacing Mohamed Bourham, who had served as interim department head since July 1, 2006.
• July 8th, Richard F. Keltie was named associate dean for administration and academic planning.
• Jon P. Rust was named head of the textile engineering, chemistry and science (TECS).
• Daniel Stancil was named head of the electrical and computer engineering and Alcoa Distinguished Professor, replacing Dr. Robert Kolbas, who had served as interim department head since 2008.

2009

• The Industrial Extension Service reached its goal of creating $1 billion in economic value to NC manufacturers from 2006 to 2010.
• Centennial Campus celebrated 25 years.
• The US News and World Report listed Engineering Online as the nation’s largest public online engineering graduate program.
• January 1st, Jerome Lavelle was named associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs in the College of Engineering after serving in the position on an interim basis since 2008.
• August 16th, Justin Schwartz was named head of materials science and engineering and Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor, replacing Michael Rigsbee, who has led the department since 1998.
• September 1st, Nancy Allbritton was named head of biomedical engineering, becoming the College’s first female department head.

2010

• Engineering Building III was dedicated.
• NC State took a leading role in federal nuclear energy hub.
• NC State co-hosted the NAE Grand Challenges Summit with Duke University.
• Red Hat donated funds to NC State to establish “The Garage,” a collaborative, open, entrepreneurial space near Centennial Campus.
• In April, Randy Woodson became NC State’s 14th chancellor.
• July 1st, Richard F. Keltie was named associate dean for research and graduate programs in the College of Engineering after serving in the position on an interim basis since 2008.
• August 1st, Morton Barlaz was named head of civil, construction, and environmental engineering, replacing George List who had led the department since 2005.

2011

• FREEDM’s smart transformers were named among world’s 10 most important emerging technologies by MIT Technology Review.
• The NSF FREEDM Systems Center went completely solar.
• October, 24th, Brian E. Campbell was named executive director of development and college relations at the NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc., replacing Ben Hughes who had served in the position for 18 years.
• In November, a program was launched with JUST, one of Jordan’s top universities, marking the first time a US research nuclear reactor was used for education purposes outside the US.

2012

• The College and University celebrated their 125th anniversary.
• A former NC State graduate student of ECE, Abdurrahim El-Keib, becomes interim prime minister of Libya.
• 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.
• In December, Richard F. Keltie stepped down as associate dean for research and graduate programs in the College of Engineering.

2013

• Dr. John Gilligan was named Senior Advisor to the Dean for Research and Graduate Programs effective January 1.
• The state-of-the-art James B. Hunt Jr. Library opened in January on NC State’s Centennial Campus. The 220,000-square-foot library contains NC State’s engineering collections and is a short walk from the new engineering buildings on Centennial.
• Dr. Carl Koch was elected to the National Academy of Engineering membership.
• Angelitha L. Daniel was named director of Minority Engineering Programs.
• Dr. Donald L. Bitzer, who helped develop the technology behind plasma-screen televisions, was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
• Alice Forgety was named the new director of recruiting, enrollment management and educational partnerships in the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Thomas E. Cabaniss, an NC State engineering alumnus, was appointed to the University’s Board of Trustees.
• Dr. John Gilligan was appointed to the newly created position of executive associate dean of engineering on July 1.
• Dr. Tameshia Ballard was named the director of engineering education by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education within the colleges of Engineering and Education, respectively, on August 16.
• Dr. Douglas S. Reeves was appointed interim assistant dean for graduate programs in October 2013.
• Tom McPherson was named director of the NCSEF board.

2014

• Dr. Grabow was appointed BAE Interim Head on July 1st.
• Dr. Peter Hauser was appointed Interim Head of TECS on December 1st.
• Dr. Laurie Williams was appointed interim head of computer science in December 15th.

2015

• Brian Campbell was named Assistant Dean of Development and College Relations in January.
• Robin E. Manning replaced Thomas R. McPherson Jr. as president of the NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc.’s board of directors in January.
• Engineering partnered with NC Central to create a new 3-plus-2 dual degree program that was developed in March.
• Office of Faculty Development and Special Initiatives renamed to Office of Faculty Advancement around May.
• Dr. Douglas Reeves was promoted from assistant dean to associate dean of graduate programs on July 1st.
• Dr. Kostadin Ivanov replaced Dr. Yousry Azmy as head of nuclear engineering on August 17th.

2016

• 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.)
• NC State and UNC Pembroke established a joint undergraduate degree program in which students will spend three years at UNC Pembroke and two years at NC State, graduating with bachelor’s degrees from both institutions. The official partnership was signed July 12th, by NC State Chancellor Dr. Randy Woodson and UNC Pembroke Chancellor Dr. Robin Gary Cummings.
• Phil Mintz replaced T.A. Helmlinger Ratcliff as interim executive director of industry expansion solutions on July 22nd.
• Dr. Marko Hakovirta was named head of forest biomaterials in August.
• Len Habas was named president of the NC State Engineering Foundation Board on October 27th.

2017

• Dr. Garey A. Fox was named head of biological and agricultural engineering in January.
• Laurie Williams was named interim head of computer science.
• Dr. Jeff A. Joines replaced Dr. Peter Hauser as department head of textile engineering, chemistry and science on January 3rd.

2018

• The University on April 20, 2018, broke ground on Fitts-Woolard Hall, which came as the result of a $25 million gift from alumni Edward P. Fitts Jr. and Edgar S. Woolard Jr. The building was formerly called Engineering Building Oval.
• The Engineering Foundation announces the creation of the NC State Engineering Young Alumni Advisory Board.
• Suzanne S. Gordon becomes the first woman to serve as president of the NC State Engineering Foundation Board of Directors. She holds bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics and a master’s degree in statistics, all from NC State.
• Dr. Donald Brenner, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor is named head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). He had served as interim head since fall 2017.
• Dr. Gregg Rothermel is named head of the Department of Computer Science (CSC).
• The National Science Foundation (NSF) Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center celebrates 10 years.
• In September, the NC State Board of Trustees approved changing the name of University College Commons to Holmes Hall in honor of alumnus Irwin Holmes, Jr., ’60, the first African American to receive an undergraduate degree from NC State.
• On December 12, the College of Engineering celebrated progress on the new Fitts-Woolard Hall with a Topping Off Celebration.

2019

• Fred Kish, M.C. Dean Term Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is named the director of the NC State Nanofabrication Facility (NNF).
• Dr. Nancy Allbritton, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry, steps down from her position as chair of the UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) on Oct. 31.
• Paul Dayton, William R. Kenan Distinguished Professor, is appointed as interim chair of the UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME).

2020

• In March, NC State halts in-person classes and transitions to virtual learning due to the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• 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.

2021

• Dean Louis Martin-Vega is elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
• Fitts-Woolard Hall is dedicated during the annual homecoming celebration.
• Sindee Simon named head of Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering effective July 1.
• Sean Mealin is the first blind Ph.D. student to graduate from the Department of Computer Science.
• 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.
• Beginning with the fall semester, NC State begins welcoming students, faculty and staff back to campus after the COVID-19 pandemic begins to sufficiently wane.
• Dane Pembroke is the first graduate of the NC State and UNC Pembroke 3+2 engineering program.
• Michael Kay is named the director of Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Institute. He had previously served as co-director of Operations Research since 2013.

2022

• Paul Dayton appointed as chair of the UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME). Dayton had served as interim chair of the department since 2019.
• Joel Ducoste in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering is named as associate dean for faculty advancement.
• Maria Mayorga of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is named Interim Director of Operations Research.
• 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.
• The Louis Martin-Vega Dean’s Chair Endowment at the College of Engineering was created through a gift from the Goodnight Educational Foundation under the direction of Dr. Jim and Mrs. Ann Goodnight.
• Louis Martin-Vega announces he will be stepping down as Dean of the College of Engineering at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.
• Jackie MacDonald Gibson named new head of the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE). She began working at the college on August 15.
• Angelitha Daniel is named as the first assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion.
• The ASSIST Center celebrates its 10th anniversary.
• Women In Engineering (WIE) celebrates its 25th anniversary.
• Engineering North Carolina’s Future, a state legislative initiative, was announced, ushering in an unprecedented period of growth for the College in response to the state’s need for STEM graduates.
• College of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was more than 11,000.

2023

• Dan Stancil announced he would step down as head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year after 14 years of service.
• Veena Misra is named the interim head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• The College of Engineering celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 3 with a gathering on The Oval on NC State’s Centennial Campus. The program highlighted all things NC State Engineering from alumni, faculty, staff and students.
• Jim Pfaendtner is named the Louis Martin-Vega Dean of the College of Engineering following a nationwide search. His appointment became effective August 1.
• Garey Fox announced he would step down as head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering effective August 1.
• Lingjuan Wang-Li is named the interim head of the Department of Biological an Agricultural Engineering effective August 1.
• John Gilligan announced he would step down from his role as executive associate dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University effective September 1, 2023, and return to the nuclear engineering faculty. He served in the role for 12 years
• Kara Peters is named Interim Associate Dean of Graduate Programs effective August 1.
• Peter Fedkiw is named Interim Associate Dean of Research and Infrastructure effective September 1.
• Emiel DenHartog is named interim head of the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science replacing Jeff Joines.

2024

• Joel Ducoste is named associate dean of the newly named Office for Faculty Development and Success (formerly Faculty Advancement).
• Kara Peters is named Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Postdoctoral Affairs effective April 26.
• Veena Misra is named permanent head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering effective May 10. She had served as interim head since July 1, 2023.
• Marissa Langford is named Director of Special Projects, Planning and Strategic Initiatives.
• Griffin Lamb is named assistant dean for Philanthropy.
• Steve Shannon is named interim head for the Department of Nuclear Engineering replacing Kostadin Ivanov who had served since August 2015.
• Chris Frey is named Associate Dean of Research and Infrastructure effective October 1. He replaced Peter Fedkiw who served as Interim Associate Dean of Research and Infrastructure since September 2023.
• Angelitha Daniel is named as the first Assistant Dean for Equality, Wellness and Engagement.

2025

• College of Engineering enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) was more than 12,500.2026
• Louis Martin-Vega, who served as Dean of the College of Engineering from 2006 to 2023, officially retired on January 1, 2025.
• Gregg Rothermel announced his retirement as head of the Department of Computer Science (CSC). He served as department head since 2018.
• In May, Kevin Howell became North Carolina State University’s 15th chancellor.
• George (Georgios) Rouskas is named interim head of the Department of Computer Science effective August 1, 2025.
• Durelle Scott is named head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering effective August 1, 2025. He replaces Lingjuan Wang-Li, who served as interim department head since August 2023.
• Jacob Jones, a Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, appointed to serve as the interim associate vice chancellor for research initiatives, effective August 15.

2026

• Alum Christina Koch becomes the first woman to travel around the moon and journey farther into space than any woman.

College of Engineering Firsts

Historical highlights of women and minorities in the College of Engineering at NC State University.

1921

Lucille Thomson of Wilmington was the first woman to enroll as a regular student at NC State and the first woman enrolled in engineering. (She majored in electrical engineering but did not graduate.) She was described in the Alumni News as NC State‘s first co-ed and the 1,000th student to register.

1941

Katharine Stinson became the first woman to receive an engineering degree from NC State (bachelor of mechanical engineering, aeronautical option).

1942

Margery Belle Garriss was the first woman to receive a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering and the second woman to receive an engineering degree.

1948

Lois Madden (Lohneiss) Todd (ChE ‘48), was the first woman to graduate with a degree in chemical engineering. She was also the third woman to receive an engineering degree from NC State.

1951

Frances M. Richardson was the first woman faculty member hired in the School of Engineering. (See also 1979.)

1953

• The first African-American graduate students enrolled in NC State: Hardy Liston in mechanical engineering and Robert L. Clemons in electrical engineering. (See also 1957).
• Emily Brown Blount was the first woman to receive a bachelor‘s degree in civil engineering. (See also 1954.)

1954

Emily Brown Blount was the first woman to receive a professional degree in civil engineering.

1956

The first African-American undergraduate students entered NC State in 1956; 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.

1957

Robert L. Clemons, one of the first two African-American graduate students enrolled at NC State, became the first African-American to receive a degree from NC State; his was a professional degree in electrical engineering.

1960

• Irwin Holmes was the first African American to receive a bachelor’s degree from NC State. His degree was in electrical engineering.
• Doris Lane Garcia was the first woman to receive a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering.
• Janice McLean Bireline was the first woman to receive a degree in engineering physics.

1961

Anna Clyde Fraker became the first woman to receive an advanced degree in engineering when she received her master’s degree in metallurgical engineering. (See also 1967.)

1962

Flora Corpening Lester was the first woman to receive a degree in mechanical engineering.

1964

Ilona Marianne Evans was the first woman to receive a degree in nuclear engineering.

1967

Anna Clyde Fraker became the first woman to receive a doctorate in ceramic engineering.

1970

Samiaha Mourad was the first woman to receive a PhD in nuclear engineering.

1973

• Aziza Ragai El-Lozy was the first woman to receive a PhD in materials engineering.
• Samia Galal Abdel Hamid Saad was the first woman to receive a PhD degree in civil engineering.

1975

Hubert Winston was the first African American to receive a doctoral degree in chemical engineering. He also has the distinction of being the first African-American faculty member in the College of Engineering and in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

1979

• Sarah Rajala became the first woman professor of electrical and computer engineering and the first woman PhD faculty member in the College of Engineering.
• Frances M. Richardson was elected the first president of the Society of Women Engineers, North Carolina Section.

1982

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

1989

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

1993

When Sarah Rajala was appointed director of the Center for Advanced Computing and Communication, she became the first woman in the College to serve as director of a research center.

1994

Gregory Washington was the first African-American man to receive a PhD from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

1996

Sarah Rajala was appointed associate dean of academic affairs, making her the first woman to hold any associate dean‘s title in the College of Engineering.

1998

Annie Antón became the first Latin American woman to join the College of Engineering faculty when she joined the Department of Computer Science.

2002

Sarah Rajala became the first woman associate dean for research and graduate programs in the College of Engineering.

2003

Teresa Helmlinger Ratcliff (EO ‘78) became the first woman president of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). She is the first engineer from North Carolina to hold the office.

2006

Louis Martin-Vega became the first Hispanic dean at NC State University.

2014

Dr. Makita R. Phillips becomes the first African-American woman to graduate with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from NC State.

2018

Suzanne S. Gordon becomes the first woman to serve as president of the NC State Engineering Foundation Board of Directors.

2021

Sean Mealin is the first blind Ph.D. student to graduate from the Department of Computer Science.

2022

Angelitha Daniel is named as the first assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion.

2024

Angelitha Daniel is named as the first Assistant Dean for Equality, Wellness and Engagement.

2026

Alum Christina Koch becomes the first woman to travel around the moon and journey farther into space than any woman.

Deans of Engineering

Tenure	Name
1923-1937	Wallace Carl Riddick, Jr.
1937-1942	Blake Ragsdale Van Leer
1942-1945	L.L. Vaughn (acting*)
1945-1962	J. Harold Lampe
1962-1978	Ralph E. Fadum
1978-1989	Larry K. Monteith
1989-1991	James K. Ferrell (interim)
1991-1993	Wilbur L. Meier, Jr.
1993-1994	Tildon H. Glisson (interim)
1994-1995	Ralph K. Cavin, III
1996	John G. Gilligan (interim)
1996-2006	Nino A. Masnari
2006-2023	Louis A. Martin-Vega
2023-present	Jim Pfaendtner

Outstanding Seniors

Since 1947, when the college of Engineering presented the Scholarly Achievement award to Robert Schmidt, we have kept a list of our outstanding seniors. Since the 1960s, the College has recognized exceptional seniors in four categories: Scholarly Achievement, Leadership, Citizenship and Service and Humanities.

2024-25 Outstanding Seniors

• Scholarly Achievement: Asher Hancock (Biomedical Engineering)
• Leadership: Jalen Lucas (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)
• Citizenship and Service: Naomi Bouedo (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)
• Humanities: Caroline Causey (Computer Science)

Engineers’ Council Leadership

The student council for the College of Engineering is the Engineers’ Council (E-Council). The E-Council plans and advertises college events, distributes funding to engineering student organizations and advocates student interests. The list below identifies E-Council officers since 1926.

Fall 2025 Leadership

• President: Katherine Wan (Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering)
• Vice President: Navya Jonnalagadda (Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering)
• Treasurer (Internal): Oliver Maynard (Nuclear Engineering)
• Treasurer (External): Nicholas Peluso (Nuclear Engineering)
• Secretary: Meredith Hobler (Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering)

Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award

The Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award was established by the Faculty of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University in 1966 to honor engineering graduates who have been recognized for outstanding achievements in:

• Planning and direction of engineering work,
• Fostering professional development of young engineers,
• Contributing to knowledge in the field of engineering, or
• Bringing, in other ways, distinction to the University through engineering achievement.

These engineering graduates have received an undergraduate or graduate degree, or both, from the College of Engineering.

Nominations for this prestigious award come from members of the Engineering faculty, and a vote by faculty representatives determines the recipients of the award.

Announcement of the annual awards is made by the Dean of Engineering at the Awards Banquet during Alumni Weekend. The recipient is presented a bronze medallion and engraved certificate.