The College of Engineering celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023, and we’re looking back on a century of achievements.
The School of Engineering was officially founded on May 28, 1923. It started with the electrical engineering, civil engineering, physics, textile engineering and mechanical engineering departments. Over the ensuing decades, the physics department was moved to a different college, and the departments of materials science and engineering, industrial and systems engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, nuclear engineering, paper science and engineering, biological and agricultural engineering, computer science and biomedical engineering were added.
Engineering has been a core part of NC State University since it was founded in 1887 as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Pictured above is one of three photos associated with engineering in the NC State University Special Collections Research Center thought to be taken in 1923. The students are in Park Shops on North Campus. Named after Charles Benjamin Park, who was an expert machinist and superintendent of the shop for almost 50 years, the building was completed in 1914 and is now home to offices, distance learning facilities and a coffee shop. Mechanical engineering students used it for their shop classes, where they built machines and practiced skills they were taught in classes.
The College of Engineering has changed and grown over the last century. Today, the mechanical engineering department also includes aerospace engineering. Students build rockets, put together supersonic wind tunnels and construct solar powered cars. Across the College’s departments, research looks much different than it did 100 years ago. But just as their counterparts did, students are still putting their knowledge into practice.
Our understanding of who can be an engineer has changed. No longer is the school almost exclusively composed of white, male students. Lucille Thomson became the first woman to enroll in 1921, and Katharine Stinson became the first woman to receive an engineering degree from NC State in 1941. In the two most recent incoming classes, women have made up approximately 33 percent of students.
Hardy Liston and Robert L. Clemons were the first African American graduate students to enroll in NC State in 1953, and three years later, Walter Holmes, Irwin Holmes, Manuel Crockett and Edward Carson became the first African American undergraduate students at the University. All studied engineering. Today, organizations like the Women and Minority Engineering Programs work to ensure a diverse student body by providing community building and engagement, academic support and professional development through several activities to ensure an inclusive environment for students.
A century ago, in 1923, what was then the North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering of the University of North Carolina formally established the School of Engineering.
Over the next 100 years, tens of thousands of students have forged their paths and had their lightbulb moments. Faculty members have mentored the next generations of engineers and computer scientists while making research breakthroughs that would have been unimaginable in 1923. Alumni have made their marks on the world, through brilliant breakthroughs in their fields, inspiring others to pursue engineering and computer science, and more.
Today, the School of Engineering is known as North Carolina State University’s College of Engineering. A lot has changed over the last century, but throughout those years one thing has remained the same: NC State engineers and computer scientists are imaginative and innovative, leading the way to a better future.
Join our College of Engineering (COE) in celebrating this milestone, and help us prepare for the next 100 years. All information will be shared at engr.ncsu.edu/100-years.
- We want to celebrate you, too. Share your story of Imagination and Innovation by filling out the form at go.ncsu.edu/yourcoestory, or share photos and memories on social media using the hashtag #NCStateEngr100.
- Follow along on social media as we share stories of our College’s early days, trailblazing women and minority engineers, outstanding alumni, state-of-the-art facilities, research accomplishments and more.
- Alumni, faculty and staff members, students and friends gathered on May 3 to mark the 100th anniversary. PBS North Carolina debuted a preview for a video series highlighting the College of Engineering and its century of achievements. Stay tuned for more festivities during Red and White Week this fall, Oct. 22-28.
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