Department of Forest Biomaterials

Historical State Timelines
Department of Forest Biomaterials
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1940s

1949 Department of Wood Science and Technology established
1949-1958 Roy M. Carter served as head of the Department of Wood Science and Technology
Professor Roy M. CarterProfessor Roy M. Carter

1950s

1950 Master's and PhD degrees in Wood Science and Technology created
1957 New lab buildings opened

Hodges Wood Working Laboratory and the Robertson Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Technology buildings opened.

R. B. Robertson Pulp and Paper LabsR. B. Robertson Pulp and Paper Labs
1959-1961 James S. Bethel served as head of the Department of Wood Science and Technology
Dr. James S. Bethel portraitDr. James S. Bethel portrait

1960s

5/25/1960 Hodges Wood Products Laboratory named

The Hodges Wood Products Laboratory was named for Brandon Patton Hodges, a former state senator, state treasurer, and advisor to the Champion Paper and Fiber Company based in Canton, NC.

Hodges Wood Products LaboratoryHodges Wood Products Laboratory
1962-1971 Eric L. Ellwood served as head of the Department of Wood Science and Technology
Dr. Eric L. Ellwood portraitDr. Eric L. Ellwood portrait
1968 Department of Wood Science and Technology renamed

The Department of Wood Science and Technology was renamed the Department of Wood and Paper Science.

1970s

1970 Department of Wood and Paper Science moved

The Department of Wood and Paper Science moved to Biltmore Hall.

Biltmore Hall, North Carolina State UniversityBiltmore Hall, North Carolina State University
1971-1976 Irving S. Goldstein served as head of the Department of Wood and Paper Science
1978-1993 Richard J. Thomas served as head of the Department of Wood and Paper Science
Portrait: Richard J. Thomas, ForestryPortrait: Richard J. Thomas, Forestry

1990s

1994-1995 Gary A. Baum served as head of the Department of Wood and Paper Science
1998 Chavonda Jacobs-Young awarded PhD

Chavonda Jacobs-Young was awarded a PhD. She previously earned a bachelor's degree in 1989 and master's degree in 1992. She was the first African American woman in the United States to earn a PhD in paper science. She later became Associate Administrator for National Programs for the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.

1999-2005 Michael J. Kocurek served as head of the Department of Wood and Paper Science

2000s

2005-2016 Steve Kelley served as head of the Department of Wood and Paper Science

2010s

3/2010 Department of Wood and Paper Science renamed

The Department of Wood and Paper Science was renamed the Department of Forest Biomaterials.

2016-2021 Marko Hakovirta served as head of the Department of Forest Biomaterials

2020s

2024 Jingxin Wang became head of the Department of Forest Biomaterials