Chancellors and Presidents
1880s
The Board of Trustees chose Alexander Q. Holladay as the first president of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The offer surprised Holladay because he applied to be a professor of English, but he accepted the presidency position anyway. He served in the position until 1899. (Biography of Alexander Holladay)
1890s
Winston served in the position until retirement in 1908. (Biography of George Tayloe Winston)
1900s
After serving as a professor of English and librarian at the college, Hill was chosen by the Board of Trustees to succeed President George Tayloe Winston. He served until retirement in 1916. (Biography of D. H. Hill, Jr.)
1910s
Wallace Carl Riddick became college president. He previously served as vice president and professor of civil engineering. He was president until 1923, when he became engineering dean. (Biography of Wallace Carl Riddick)
1920s
He led the college until he retired in 1934. (Biography of E. C. Brooks)
1930s
The title for the chief executive officer at NC State changed from "president" to "dean of administration." This occurred after NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Women's College (which later became UNC-Greensboro) combined to form the Consolidated University.
John William Harrelson, class of 1909, was appointed head of the college. He led NC State until 1953. (Biography of John Harrelson)
1940s
The title of NC State's chief executive officer changed to "chancellor."
1950s
Dr. Carey Hoyt Bostian became the seventh person to lead NC State. He served on the NC State faculty since 1930. In 1959, he stepped down as chancellor to return to teaching. (Biography of Carey Bostian)
John Tyler Caldwell was named Chancellor. He served until retiring in 1975. (Biography of John Caldwell)
1970s
Dr. John T. Caldwell retired after 15 years as NC State's chancellor. Caldwell oversaw a period of unprecedented growth for the university. Of the nearly 47,000 degrees awarded in the first 85 years of the university, two-thirds were earned during Caldwell's tenure.
Rigney served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Caldwell retired and before Chancellor Thomas took the position. (Biography of Jackson Rigney)
Joab L. Thomas became the ninth chancellor of NC State. During his administration, enrollment at the university surpassed 20,000 students for the first time, and the College of Veterinary Medicine was established. He left NC State in 1981 to become president of the University of Alabama. (Biography of Joab Thomas)
1980s
Winstead served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Thomas left the university and before Chancellor Poulton took the position. (Biography of Nash Winstead)
Poulton became the tenth chancellor of NC State and the third scientist to lead the institution. Under his leadership, the university acquired and began to develop Centennial Campus. Poulton served as chancellor until 1989, and he later became director of the university's Literacy Systems Center. (Biography of Bruce Poulton)
1990s
After serving as interim chancellor for several months, Larry K. Monteith was chosen by the UNC System Board of Governors to fill the position on a permanent basis. He served until retirement in 1998. (Biography of Larry Monteith)
Marye Anne Fox became the first woman hired as chancellor at NC State. She served in the position until 2004 when she left to become chancellor of the University of California, San Diego. (Biography of Marye Anne Fox)
2000s
Barnhardt served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Fox left the university and before Chancellor Oblinger took the position. (Biography of Bob Barnhardt)
He served in the position until 2009. (Biography of Jim Oblinger)
Woodward served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Oblinger stepped down and before Chancellor Woodson took the position. (Biography of Jim Woodward)
2010s
Woodson had previously been Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Purdue University. (Biography of Randy Woodson)