A year of firsts

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.