Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Historical State Timelines
Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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1930s

1930 First industrial engineering courses offered
5/2/1930 Industrial engineering curriculum established

Curriculum in industrial engineering was announced with the first courses offered in the fall of 1930.

1931 Department of Industrial Engineering established

The Department of Industrial Engineering was established and located at 111 Lampe Drive.

Unnamed BuildingUnnamed Building
1933 First undergraduate degrees awarded

The first bachelor's degrees in industrial engineering were granted to Henry Saunders and Harold Thomason.

1938-1942 Frank Groseclose served as department head
Frank F. Groseclose portraitFrank F. Groseclose portrait

1940s

1940 Department of Industrial Engineering relocated

The Department of Industrial Engineering moved from 111 Lampe Drive to the 1911 Building.

1946-1947 Ronald Wiggins served as acting department head
1947-1954 David E. Henderson served as department head
Professor David E. Henderson portraitProfessor David E. Henderson portrait

1950s

1950 Department of Industrial Engineering moved

The Department of Industrial Engineering moved from the 1911 Building to Riddick Laboratories.

Riddick Engineering LaboratoriesRiddick Engineering Laboratories
1950 First master's degrees in industrial engineering conferred
1955-1957 Robert G. Carson, Jr. served as department head
1957-1973 Clifton A. Anderson served as department head
Clifton A. AndersonClifton A. Anderson

1970s

1973-1982 William A. Smith served as department head
Dr. William A. Smith, Jr. portraitDr. William A. Smith, Jr. portrait
1974 Rajendra Pachauri awarded doctorate

Rajendra Pachauri was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree. He previously earned a MS degree in 1972. In 2007, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

1980s

1983-1990 Thom J. Hodgson served as department head

1990s

1990-1999 Stephen D. Roberts served as department head
1999-2007 James R. Wilson served as department head

2000s

2005 Department of Industrial Engineering moved

The Department of Industrial Engineering moved from Riddick Labs to 111 Lampe Drive.

2005 Department of Industrial Engineering renamed

The Department of Industrial Engineering was renamed the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, making it the first named department at NC State. More historical information was hosted on the departmental website.

2007-2017 Paul Cohen served as department head

2010s

2017- Julie Swann served as department head

Julie Swann was the first woman department head appointed in industrial and systems engineering.

2020s

2020 Fitts-Woolard Hall opened

Fitts-Woolard Hall opened as a 225,000 square-foot engineering innovation building. Fitts-Woolard Hall brought the College of Engineering together on Centennial Campus by serving as the home for the Dean’s Administration; the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; and the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and System Engineering.