Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Historical State Timelines
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
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1910s

1918 Early agricultural equipment courses offered

Service courses in farm equipment were taught in the Department of Agronomy and not by engineering. Agricultural engineering courses were first taught in the 1920-1921 academic year.

1920s

1920-1921 First agricultural engineering courses

The agricultural engineering instructional program commenced in the 1920-1921 academic year. R. E. Bosque and H. D. Lewis were the earliest instructors, and they were part of the agronomy faculty.

1930s

1937 Agricultural engineering degrees first offered

1940s

1940-1948 David S. Weaver served as head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering
David S. WeaverDavid S. Weaver
1948 Department of Agricultural Engineering moved to David Clark Labs
David Clark LabsDavid Clark Labs
1948 Master's degrees first offered in agricultural engineering
1948-1961 G. Wallace Giles served as head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering
Professor G. Wallace Giles portraitProfessor G. Wallace Giles portrait

1950s

1957 Department of Agricultural Engineering moved to Weaver Labs
Weaver LaboratoriesWeaver Laboratories
1957 Doctoral degrees first offered in agricultural engineering
1958 Tobacco bulk curing unit developed

A tobacco bulk curing unit was developed by the Department of Agricultural Engineering.

Tobacco fieldTobacco field

1960s

1960 Frances "Billie" Richardson became the first female professor in the College of Engineering
Engineering research associate Billie RichardsonEngineering research associate Billie Richardson
1961-1987 Francis J. Hassler served as head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering
Francis J. HasslerFrancis J. Hassler
1965 Department of Agricultural Engineering renamed

The Department of Agricultural Engineering was renamed the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

1968 New tobacco harvesting equipment developed

William E. Splinter, professor in the Department of Agriculture Engineering, helped develop a mechanical tobacco harvester and a mechanical tobacco transplanter. Splinter joined the faculty at NC state in 1954.

Dr. William E. Splinter in field with tobacco harvesterDr. William E. Splinter in field with tobacco harvester

1970s

1979 Agricultural engineering departmental history published

G. W. Giles wrote A Department Grows to Maturity: The History of Agricultural Engineering at N.C. State University (1914 to 1977). An updated version of this history was hosted on the department's website.

1980s

1987-1990 James H. Ruff served as head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
James H. Ruff, Biological and Agricultural Department Head from 1987-1990James H. Ruff, Biological and Agricultural Department Head from 1987-1990

1990s

1991-1999 David B. Beasley served as head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
1999-2006 James H. Young served as head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

2000s

2006-2014 Robert O. Evans served as head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

2010s

2017-2023 Garey Fox served as head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering