Distinguished Professors

NC State is home to more than 2,500 outstanding faculty, each guided by an extraordinary purpose. Across disciplines, they inspire students to think creatively and critically, serve as mentors, fuel the evolution of their fields of study through graduate student support and undertake vital research that benefits our community, state and world. Distinguished professorships are one of the most valuable ways NC State can honor such remarkable contributions. Private support has helped us increase our distinguished professorships — and our impact.

Morris sitting in the SPIA suite in Caldwell Hall.

Sep 3, 2024

Forming Critical Thinkers

Irwin Morris is both the executive director of NC State’s School of Public and International Affairs and the William T. Kretzer Distinguished Professor of Humanities. His focus, however, remains singular: uplifting students.

Feb 27, 2024

Speaking the Language of Leadership

Distinguished Professor Bradley Kirkman is a leading expert in the field of leadership. His prolific work is as practical as it is visionary.

Man standing in an indoor shop in front of a tractor .

Jan 9, 2024

How a Distinguished Professorship Became a Career Pinnacle

Gary Roberson, the Charles W. Suggs Distinguished Professor in CALS, is retiring after 40 years. His relationship with a departmental legend — the donor and namesake behind his title — helped pave his way to success.

Dec 12, 2023

Goodnight Early Career Innovators Award Supports a New Generation of Leaders

Thanks to the generosity and vision of Dr. Jim and Mrs. Ann Goodnight, the Goodnight Early Career Innovators award has supported more than 70 of NC State's outstanding early career faculty.

Nov 21, 2023

Private Support Leads to Public Benefits in the College of Engineering

A distinguished professorship is helping Yong Zhu create electronic devices using nanomaterials that can monitor people’s — and even plants’ — health. That is just the tip of the iceberg, though, when it comes to how this funding furthers his work at NC State.

Dr. Schaefer leaning against a wall in Riddick Hall.

Sep 13, 2022

The Freedom of Flexibility

Following in the footsteps of an NC State pioneer, Dr. Thomas Schaefer has built his extensive physics career in Raleigh. Since Schaefer was named the Wesley O. Doggett Distinguished Professor for the Department of Physics in 2018, private support has given him greater flexibility to Think and Do.

May 3, 2021

For Ade, Professorship Fuels Growth

Harald Ade, Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Professor, is grateful for the resources his professorship provides and says that these positions not only boost faculty research — they retain and attract the brightest minds.

Gina Fernandez among berry plants in a green house

May 3, 2021

Breeding a Berry Successful Career

WIth support from the John D. and Nell R. Leazar Distinguished Professorship, Gina Fernandez is developing a better berry — and the next generation of plant breeders.

Apr 26, 2021

A Perfect Fit

The Jackson Family Distinguished Professorship in Biomedical Engineering reflects donor Jerry Jackson’s decades of NC State support and bolsters faculty member Helen Huang’s work to improve lives.

Apr 26, 2021

Shaking Up Earthquake Research

The Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering’s Mervyn Kowalsky channels distinguished professorship funding to support students and their work to address structural engineering challenges.