Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
1880s
The first student enrolled at the college was Walter J. Matthews, who studied mechanic arts.
The North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (A&M) taught two curricula: agriculture and mechanics. The mechanics curriculum included fundamentals of civil and mechanical engineering.
1890s
The old Mechanical Building, designed by Professor J.H. Kinealy, housed the entire department of Mechanical Engineering including the shops.
1920s
The School of Engineering was established on May 28, 1923. The school included five departments: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, physics, and textile engineering.
1930s
Katharine Stinson, personal friend of Amelia Earhart, was the first woman to enroll in mechanical engineering.
Katharine Stinson outside of Broughton Hall1940s
Katharine Stinson was the first woman to graduate from NC State's School of Engineering. Stinson received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in the Aeronautical option. Stinson was taking flying lessons at the old Raleigh Airport on US-401 when Amelia Earhart flew in for a visit in the early 1930s. When Stinson told Earhart that she wanted to become a pilot, Earhart advised her to become an engineer, which was a career Stinson pursued in spite of ... More
One of the most significant contributions to the war effort was the Diesel Program developed by the Mechanical Engineering Department. The program trained more than 1,500 members of the navy.
Group photo of U.S. Navy ensigns studying diesel engineering at NC State1950s
The first four African American undergraduates enrolled at North Carolina State College: Ed Carson (electrical engineering), and Manuel Crockett (electrical engineering) enrolled in summer. Irwin Holmes (electrical engineering), and Walter Holmes (mechanical engineering, aerospace option) enrolled in fall.
Irwin Holmes on tennis court1960s
Claude A. Verbal Sr. was the third African-American to graduate from NC State and the first African American graduate of mechanical engineering.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering was renamed the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Dr. Robert W. Truitt portrait1970s
J. C. Williams1980s
1990s
F. R. DeJarnette was interim department head from 1993 to 1994. Following this, he served as department head from 1994 to 2000.