Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

1920s

1920 First sociology courses offered
1920-1923 Carl Taylor served as head of the sociology unit
Carl C. Taylor portraitCarl C. Taylor portrait
1923 Department of Rural Sociology and History established
1923-1927 Walfred A. Anderson served as head of sociology unit
1925 Department of History and Sociology formed

The Department of History and Sociology formed when rural sociology curriculum was separated from the program. A separate Department of Rural Sociology was also created.

1926 First PhD conferred

The first PhD was conferred to Jesse Mowry who received a degree in the rural sociology.

1927-1931 G.W. Forster served as head of the agricultural economics and rural sociology unit
Dr. G. W. Forster portraitDr. G. W. Forster portrait
1928 First woman earned master's degree in rural sociology

Virginia F. Harris became the first woman to earn a master's degree in rural sociology.

1930s

circa 1930 Rural Sociology Department merged

The Rural Sociology Department merged with the Agricultural Economics Department. The result of this merger was the creation of the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department.

1937 Department of History and Sociology divided

The Department of History and Sociology divided into two departments: the Department of History and Department of Sociology.

1937-1963 Sanford Winston served as head of department of Sociology and Anthropology
Dr. Sanford Winston portraitDr. Sanford Winston portrait

1940s

1940-1960 Charles Horace Hamilton served as head of Department of Rural Sociology
Dr. C. Horace Hamilton portraitDr. C. Horace Hamilton portrait

1950s

1953 Department of Sociology renamed

The Department of Sociology was renamed the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

1960s

1960-1981 Selz Cabot Mayo served as department head

Dr. Mayo became the head of the Department of Rural Sociology (now the Department of Sociology and Anthropology) in 1960 and retired in 1981.

Selz C. Mayo portraitSelz C. Mayo portrait
1965 First African American faculty instructor hired

Dorothy Williams became the first African American instructor with faculty ranking in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Dorothy S. Williams, NC State University FacultyDorothy S. Williams, NC State University Faculty
1966 Department of Sociology and Anthropology established

Department of Rural Sociology merged with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, retaining the latter name.

1967 Wilma C. Peebles-Wilkins graduated

Dr. Peebles-Wilkins was one of the first African American women to graduate from NC State's College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) with a degree in sociology.

1970s

1972 "In a Black Perspective" published

NC State published "In a Black Perspective." This pamphlet totaled the university's black community at nine professors and 222 students (out of a total 13,809). The publication listed courses focusing on black history and culture: two in political Science and one on race relations in sociology.

1980s

1981-1985 Ronald C. Wimberly served as head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
1986-1993 Luther B. Otto served as head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology

1990s

1990 Economics and sociology programs split into separate departments
1993-2005 William B. Clifford served as head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
William Clifford portraitWilliam Clifford portrait

2000s

2005-2008 Edward L. Kick served as head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
2008-2013 Maxine P. Atkinson served as head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Maxine Atkinson at Opening of 1911 BuildingMaxine Atkinson at Opening of 1911 Building

2010s

2013-2020 William Smith served as head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology

2020s

2020-2022 Troy Case served as head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
2023 Andrea Leverentz became head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology