Howard Williams and Clyde Sorenson are this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winners for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). They, along with other outstanding alumni, were honored Friday, Sept. 18, during a ceremony at Park Alumni Center.
The CALS Alumni and Friends Society, in association with the college, also presented Outstanding Alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni awards, which recognize excellence and the achievements of former students in their careers and communities, as well as the Outstanding CALS Friend award, which recognizes partners who did not graduate from CALS but have demonstrated exceptional support and leadership within the fields of agriculture and life sciences.
All award recipients represent the fulfillment of the promise of NC State University’s land-grant mission in academics, research and Extension. Their professional achievements and service to NC State and their communities exemplify the extraordinary possibility of achievement for current students who will become future industry leaders.
Clyde Sorenson ’80 B.S., Wildlife Biology, ’84 M.S., Entomology, ’88 Ph.D., Entomology
Clyde Sorensen’s deep connection to NC State began as an undergraduate student and then as a graduate and doctoral student, before returning to shape generations of future scientists over a 30-year career as an Alumni Association Distinguished Undergraduate Professor.
He has taught over 10,000 students in ENT 201: Insects and People, inspiring many to pursue careers in entomology and related fields. His teaching mastery earned him the prestigious 2025 Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, a top honor across North Carolina’s public universities, and the 2025 NC Wildlife Federation’s Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award for Environmental Educator of the Year.
For nearly five decades, Clyde Sorenson has transformed skeptical students into passionate insect enthusiasts at NC State University.
Discover His Passion 
A passionate advocate for insect conservation, he lectures on insect decline, fireflies, monarch butterflies and biodiversity. He has authored over 340 scientific and popular publications and serves on advisory boards for the Sandhills Ecological Institute, First Fruits Farms and Camp Bryan. He helped establish the Ronald Kuhr Entomology Teaching Assistant Award Endowment, which supports excellence in entomological teaching by providing meaningful teaching experiences to doctoral candidates.
A member of the Entomological Society of America, Sigma Xi and Phi Kappa
Phi, Sorenson is also an avid birder, angler, hunter, wildlife photographer, painter
and woodcarver.
Howard Williams ’69 B.S., Agricultural and Resource Economics
Raised on a dairy farm in Iredell County, North Carolina, Howard Williams developed an early passion for leadership through FFA (Future Farmers of America), serving as both state and national FFA president before earning his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from NC State University in 1969. He went on to earn a law degree from Wake Forest University Law School and a master of laws in taxation from The George Washington University Law School.
From a dairy farm in Iredell County to a 50-plus-year career in tax law, Howard Williams credits NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with helping shape the life he built.
Explore His Journey 
Following his service as a U.S. Treasury tax litigator, he established a distinguished 50-year legal practice in Greensboro as a partner at Brooks Pierce Law Firm. Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for over 30 years, he specializes in corporate tax planning, controversy and aviation law while serving on the NC Bar Tax Section Board for two decades and the IRS Southeastern Liaison Committee.
His commitment to agriculture and civic duty includes service as a director for both the NC Agricultural Foundation and NC FFA Foundation. He is a former president of the NC 4-H Development Association and has held leadership roles with the Greater Greensboro Community Foundation and Greensboro Kiwanis Club. He also served on the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Commission. Outside the firm and boardroom, he enjoys supporting agricultural youth, student success, extension programs and local civic initiatives.
The Outstanding Alumni Awards recognize CALS graduates who have excelled in their chosen fields and demonstrated a record of service.
Henry Chancy
Raised in Warner Robins, Georgia, Henry F. Chancy transitioned from a local high school graduate to a prominent figure in American agriculture, earning his Ph.D. in soil science at NC State University and building one of the East Coast’s top sweet potato operations.
Chancy began his career consulting on 30,000 acres of cropland before establishing Millstream Farms in Newton Grove, North Carolina, alongside his wife, Laurie, in 1989. What started as a 2,500-acre farm has expanded into a 7,000-acre family enterprise. Today, managed alongside two of their children, Annette and Richard, Millstream Farms employs more than 150 people during peak season, packing and shipping climate-controlled sweet potatoes to domestic and European markets year-round.
Chancy’s leadership extends across North Carolina’s agricultural sector. He served 37 years as President of the Sampson Gin Company, which he co-founded in 1990, and remains an active member of the NC Sweet Potato Commission. 
R. Reynolds Cowles Jr.
Dr. Reynolds Cowles is an Iredell County, North Carolina, native who was raised on his family’s dairy farm in Statesville. He attended NC State University, earning his bachelor’s in zoology in 1964, before earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University in 1967. His passion for equine health and performance horse lameness has shaped a distinguished career spanning over five decades.
In 1979, Cowles founded Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in Free Union, Virginia, expanding it into a premier 11-doctor ambulatory and referral practice. A decorated industry leader, he served as president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 2017, past president of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, and is a recipient of the 2009 Virginia Veterinary Medicine Association Distinguished Veterinarian Award and 2019 Oklahoma State University Outstanding Alumni Award.
Now retired from private practice, Cowles serves as equine medical director for the National Steeplechase Association, Chairs Foxfield Racing LLC, and has served on advisory boards for the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and Marion duPont Scott Equine Center. He and his wife, Evelyn, sponsor the Cowles Family Scholarship for pre-veterinary students, staying deeply connected to their NC State roots alongside his daughter and four grandchildren, all proud Wolfpack graduates.
Grace Douglas
From Wernersville, Pennsylvania, Grace Douglas brought an elementary school dream of working for NASA to NC State University, earning her master’s in food science in 2007 and Ph.D. in functional genomics in 2011. During her time at NC State, she was guided by the late Todd Klaenhammer, an outstanding mentor and advisor whose encouragement helped shape her career.
Today, Douglas serves as lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort and manager of the Space Food Systems Laboratory at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. For nearly two decades, she has spearheaded ground, analog simulation and spaceflight research to develop safe, nutritious and shelf-stable food systems for extreme and resource constrained environments. Her work directly supports Artemis missions, fueling crew members, including fellow NC State alumna Christina Koch, under strict spacecraft mass, power and storage constraints.
Beyond resource efficiency, Douglas leads crucial studies on spaceflight menu fatigue, human performance and extended five-year shelf-life requirements to ensure astronauts maintain proper nutritional intake during long-duration exploration to the moon and Mars. Emphasizing that clear communication is just as vital as understanding the science itself, Douglas continues to pioneer food system solutions that protect human health and resilience.
Misty Franklin
Born at Fort Bragg and raised in Marion, North Carolina, Misty Franklin brought her appreciation for the state’s outdoors with her to NC State University, where she earned her master’s degree in botany in 2001.
Franklin began her career with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as state botanist in 2002. Today, as program director, she leads a team of field biologists documenting North Carolina’s rich biodiversity to safeguard natural communities for future generations. Her contributions include co-authoring the North Carolina Natural and Working Lands Action Plan and publishing the Biennial Protection Plan. Recognized for her leadership in conserving threatened species, Franklin received the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion Award and the North Carolina Botanical Garden Award.
A strong advocate for public access to biodiversity data, Franklin believes sharing information about our natural world helps people appreciate the plants and animals that share our space. Outside of her conservation work, she stays busy attending her kids’ sports events, walking in the woods, and working on her goal to visit every county and state park across North Carolina.
Joe French
Joe French is a Reidsville, North Carolina, native who grew up on his family’s farm in rural Rockingham County. Established in 1887 as a small tobacco farm, it has remained a family operation for generations. Today, the farm is managed by French, his mother, Hazel, brother, Jeff, wife, Lori, and daughters, Taylor and Michaela. He earned his bachelor’s in animal science from NC State University in 1986 before completing his master and Ph.D. in reproductive physiology at Texas A&M University.
For 30 years, French served as research operations manager at the Upper Piedmont Research Station, directing research across field crops, specialty horticulture, beef cattle, and sheep. Recognizing his proven field leadership and administrative experience, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler appointed French in 2023 as assistant commissioner of agriculture over Agricultural Services for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In this role, he provides leadership for key divisions including Agronomic Services, Food Distribution, Marketing, Plant Industry, Research Stations, and Soil and Water Conservation.
Outside of state leadership, French and his family operate their century-old farm along the Dan River, maintaining a herd of 40 registered Black Angus females alongside newer pasture-based egg and Coturnix quail operations.
Summer Lanier
Raised on a contract turkey farm in White Oak, North Carolina, Summer Lanier grew up with a deep connection to agriculture. That foundation led her to NC State University, where she earned dual bachelor’s degrees in animal science and poultry science in 2004. She completed her master’s in poultry science in 2006 before graduating from the CALS Agricultural Leadership Development Program in 2014.
Lanier dedicated 19 years to Prestage Farms, Inc. in a wide range of leadership roles. As public relations director and later antibiotic-free turkey production manager, she spearheaded key internship programs and successfully managed complex, third-party audited production standards.
Today, Lanier serves as executive director of the North Carolina Poultry Federation, advocating for the state’s $44 billion poultry industry. Her expertise spans international trade missions, biosecurity presentations and national industry boards, including the US Poultry & Egg Association and the Agricultural Institute Advisory Board.
Deeply committed to giving back, Lanier actively volunteers as a 4-H competition judge and previously served as a former United Way board member. She resides in Wallace, North Carolina, with her husband, Matt, a fellow NC State graduate, and their two children, Cade and Maesie, while proudly supporting the Wolfpack community.
Michael Moss
Raised on his family’s farm in Mississippi, Michael Moss developed a lifelong commitment to agriculture that brought him to NC State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in plant pathology.
Following a position as an assistant professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida, Moss began a distinguished 38-year career with Syngenta. Today, as head of technical development in Greensboro, North Carolina, he leads a field-based team advancing crop protection, seed and trait solutions. Throughout his career, Moss has held leadership roles across research, development and marketing, managing the Global Fungicide Development portfolio in England, leading the U.S. technical integration of the Novartis and Zeneca merger, and playing a key role in launching azoxystrobin for the global market.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Moss owns Windy Hill Farms, a 523-acre operation in Randolph County, North Carolina, where he raises registered Angus cattle alongside his son. 
A former president of the North Carolina Angus Association, his environmental stewardship earned the property North Carolina Conservation Farm of the Year honors in 2016. 
Additionally, the Moss family is proud to own and operate the Liberty Antiques Festival at the farm, which is widely recognized as the premier show in the Mid-Atlantic.
Moss continues to drive agricultural innovation through his leadership, service and dedication to the industry.
Caroline Ortiz
Caroline Ortiz, a native of Meadow, North Carolina, grew up on her family’s farm in southern Johnston County. Today, she serves as assistant vice provost for Institutional Analytics at NC State University. She graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management and minors in accounting and economics.
Ortiz leads three analytics teams within University Data and Analytics, overseeing institutional reporting, business intelligence and data science. She advances NC State’s comprehensive data strategy, including implementing the enterprise Power BI platform and developing scalable analytics to support cross-functional initiatives and strategic institutional planning. Prior to this, she managed more than $55 million in annual expenditures for the Graduate Student Support Plan, building extensive experience across student, human resources and financial operations during more than 13 years at the university.
Ortiz began her career teaching middle school science and biotechnology before transitioning into higher education administration. Her rural roots, interdisciplinary background and ability to connect data with people shape her leadership approach. 
She remains committed to helping NC State use information thoughtfully to strengthen decision-making, improve operational effectiveness and measure institutional success across the university enterprise.
Alan Sharp
Alan Sharp is a Sims, North Carolina, native who earned his associate degree in livestock management and technology from NC State University’s Agricultural Institue in 1980. He serves as vice president of Sharp Family Farms, a six-generation agricultural operation originally established by his family in 1905. Working alongside his family to manage daily operations, his passion for swine production and natural resource stewardship has shaped a distinguished career. Since 2018, the family has owned a meat processing facility in Sims. This was an asset during COVID, providing a source of locally processed meats for the community
Under his leadership, the farm has achieved top industry standards, earning Sharp induction into the NC State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame in 2015. He was named a 1999 National Pork Producers Council Pork All-American, received the 2002 TGANC Farm Family of the Year award, and earned the National Endowment for Soil and Water Conservation Award.
Sharp has remained deeply committed to service. He advances local agricultural and natural resource stewardship on the Wilson County Soil and Water Board and the Wilson County Livestock Association. In his community, he serves in leadership at Nobles Chapel Church, served on the Rock Ridge Athletic Board, mentored youth as a baseball coach and is a 4-H advisor for fair pig shows.
Michael Stocum
Michael Stocum has spent his career bridging science and strategy to deliver life-changing medical innovations. His journey began at NC State University, serving as a video manager for Wolfpack football and basketball while earning dual bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and microbiology in 1990, followed by a master’s in biotechnology management in 1992.
Transitioning from early work as an industry scientist to executive leadership, Stocum has held global roles at major corporations like GlaxoSmithKline and as an entrepreneur. Today, as CEO of Bantam Pharma, he brings deep expertise in product development, commercialization and fundraising. Throughout his career, including founding Personalized Medicine Partners, Opsepio Therapeutics and Inivata, Ltd., his work has contributed to approved therapeutics such as Tykerb, Votrient and Abacavir, alongside groundbreaking molecular testing platforms to guide patient care.
Named Triangle Business Journal’s Biotech CEO of the Year in 2018, Stocum remains deeply connected to NC State through his recent service on the College of Sciences Foundation Board and occasional guest lectures.
Outside the boardroom, he is a private pilot, an active volunteer and enjoys supporting Wolfpack baseball and Hurricanes hockey while devoting time to his wife of nearly 30 years, Wendy, their two adult children, and one grandchild.
Darrell Westmoreland
Raised in a farming family, Walkertown, North Carolina, native Darrell Westmoreland learned early that healthy soil and clean water are essential for thriving communities. That connection to the outdoors led him to NC State University, where he served as BAE Engineering Club president and earned his bachelor’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering in 1991.
Westmoreland began his career with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, gaining valuable expertise in erosion control, permitting and regulatory compliance. In 1994, recognizing a vital need for specialized environmental contractors, he co-founded North State Environmental, Inc. in Winston-Salem. As CEO, Westmoreland has guided the company’s growth into a multi-state contractor operating nine crews across the region. Under his leadership, the firm has restored over two million linear feet of streams and more than 2,000 acres of wetlands, executing complex coastal resiliency, dam removal, and aquatic habitat creation projects.
Recognized with the Governor’s Business Conservationist of the Year Award and the ACEC Engineering Excellence Award, Westmoreland actively serves in leadership roles with the North Carolina Environmental Restoration Association and the Ecological Restoration Business Association. 
Outside of work, he coaches South Stokes High School’s hunter safety team, enjoys farming, quail hunting and offshore fishing, and takes great pride in leaving the land in better condition for future generations alongside his wife, Stephanie.
Elizabeth Wilson
Elizabeth “Beth” Wilson is a native of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, whose lifelong dedication to agricultural education began at NC State University, where she earned her two bachelor’s degrees in agricultural education and horticulture, a master’s degree in agricultural education and a doctorate in occupational education. 
Over a distinguished academic career, she served as director of the Agricultural Institute, assistant director of CALS Academic Programs and professor of agricultural and extension education, authoring or co-authoring numerous widely cited peer-reviewed publications.
A decorated educator, Wilson’s honors include the NC State Alumni Distinguished  Professor Award, National FFA Agriscience Teacher of the Year, American Association of the Agricultural Education Fellow, U.S. Department of Agriculture Regional Teaching Excellence Award, and the 2023 NC FFA Lifetime Achievement Award. She secured funding for initiatives like CALS’s Soldier to Agriculture program and new industry internship pathways. Alongside her academic work, she was a NC certified landscape contractor and mother of two. 
In phased retirement, Wilson assisted CALS Career Services as an employer liaison. Now a professor emeritus, she continues supporting departmental initiatives. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys native gardening, camping and traveling with her partner and following her adult children and past students successes.
Gary Upchurch
Gary Upchurch grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, developing an early appreciation for plants, landscapes and the outdoors. He attended NC State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in horticulture in 1976. During his time at NC State, Upchurch was a member of the Fencing Team, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity and the Horticulture Club.
Following graduation, Upchurch began his career with landscape contracting companies in Greensboro and Raleigh before joining New Garden Landscaping & Nursery, Inc., where he spent 30 years. He concluded his professional career in 2021, leaving a lasting impact on the landscape industry. Throughout his career, Upchurch served on the NC Nursery and Landscape Association Board and received the prestigious Oakland Merit Award in 2002 in recognition of his professional contributions.
Upchurch has remained deeply committed to NC State through volunteer leadership. He has served on the CALS Alumni and Friends Society Board, the NC State Alumni Association Board, including as its president, and has participated on the Park Scholarship Selection Committee for 28 years. Today, he volunteers as a CASS (CALS Alumni for Student Success) student coach for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and enjoys cheering on the Wolfpack as a season ticket holder for NC State football and women’s basketball.
The Outstanding Young Alumni Awards recognize former CALS students who have excelled early in their careers and show potential for continued success.
Tyler Allen
Tyler Allen has established a distinguished career at the intersection of cancer research discovery and clinical trial innovation. A triple NC State alumnus, Tyler earned dual bachelor’s degrees in plant biology and biological sciences in 2014 under key mentors Jon Horowitz, Chad Jordan, Terri Long, and Anna Stepanova. He earned his Ph.D. in comparative biomedical sciences in 2018.
Allen is widely recognized for his seminal contributions to cancer metastasis research, including his development of the Cancer Exodus Hypothesis. By advancing the understanding of how circulating tumor cell clusters migrate collectively to spread cancer, his work challenged conventional views of metastasis and earned him recognition on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in science.
Today, Allen serves as program leader for Clinical Research Representation at Duke Cancer Institute. In this role, he collaborates across academic, healthcare and community sectors to strengthen clinical research programs and expand patient access to emerging cancer therapies.
Through his scientific scholarship and visionary leadership, Allen continues to bridge research discovery and clinical impact to improve outcomes for patients with cancer.
Bailee Arnold
From Middlesex, North Carolina, Bailee Arnold has built a dynamic career dedicated to pork industry advocacy and producer education. Though she did not grow up directly in production agriculture, she discovered her passion at NC State’s Agricultural Institute, earning her associate degree in livestock and poultry management in 2013 under mentors Billy Flowers and Jonathan Phillips. Arnold credits the Agricultural Institute for showing her that anyone can become a champion for farmers, regardless of background.
She gained hands-on operational experience managing a 4,000-head sow farm before serving as a program associate with NC State Swine Extension. Today, Arnold serves as director of outreach and producer education for the North Carolina Pork Council. In this role, she oversees statewide programs like Pork Quality Assurance and leadership initiatives, bridging the gap between producers, policymakers and consumers.
Recognized as the National Pork Board’s 2019 Pig Farmer of Tomorrow and recipient of the 2020 NC Pork Council Emerging Leader Award, Arnold stays deeply involved in service as a Girl Scout leader and NC State Fair Livestock Scholarship Committee member, while also serving on the Cooperative Extension Agricultural Programs Board.
Outside of work, she is a devoted community volunteer, mom and shark enthusiast who enjoys hunting for fossilized shark teeth and learning about their prehistoric history.
Nicholas Basinger
Born in Charlotte and raised in Greer, South Carolina, Nicholas Tuschak Basinger rediscovered his passion for agriculture on his grandparents’ Salisbury farm and during two seasons working on organic and biodynamic farms in western North Carolina after completing an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. He pursued advanced studies at NC State, earning his master’s degree in 2015 and Ph.D. in 2018 in horticultural science under mentors Katie Jennings and David Monks.
In 2018, Basinger joined the faculty at the University of Georgia, where he serves as associate [rofessor of weed science and director of graduate studies for the Master of Plant Protection and Pest Management Program. His research focuses on integrated weed management, crop-weed interactions and limiting herbicide resistance. A dedicated educator, Basinger co-authored the 2024 textbook Fundamentals of Weed Science, coaches the championship-winning UGA Weed Team, and has mentored over 38 graduate students as either chair or member of their graduate committee.
Recognized with the 2025 Southern Weed Science Society Outstanding Educator Award, the 2026 Southern Weed Science Society Outstanding Young Weed Scientist Award, and the 2026 UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Science Outstanding Teaching Award, Basinger has participated in over $18 million in collaborative research grants. He believes farmers are often agriculture’s best teachers. 
Susan Jones Benoy
From Clinton, North Carolina, Susan Jones Benoy’s path to NC State began with determination. Initially taking courses through the STEAM transfer program, a summer course with mentor Lynn Worley-Davis sparked a passion for poultry that changed her life’s trajectory. Benoy completed dual bachelor’s degrees in agricultural education and poultry science in 2018, and was named the 2018 U.S. Poultry Foundation Student of the Year. She completed her master’s in agricultural and extension education in 2020 earning the North American Colleges and Teacher of Agriculture Graduate Student Teaching Award. 
After teaching high school agriculture for three years, Benoy returned full-circle to the Prestage Department of Poultry Science in 2023 as a lecturer. She teaches key courses, directs the Poultry Science Summer Immersion recruitment program, and co-coordinates the Agricultural Institute’s Livestock and Poultry Management Program. Additionally, she coaches the nationally competitive NC State Collegiate Poultry Judging Team and advises the Collegiate Young Farmer & Rancher organization.
Terri Billeisen
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Terri Billeisen spent her teenage years in Greenwood, Indiana, before earning her Ph.D. in entomology at NC State in 2015. Immigrating to the United States shaped her approach to science communication, inspiring her to build inclusive learning environments where every student and grower feels welcomed. Advised by Rick Brandenburg and additionally guided by mentors Mike Waldvogel, Brian Royals and Clyde Sorenson, Billeisen believes science is meaningless without human connection and effective communication across all communities.
Today, Billeisen serves as assistant Extension professor and director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State. Her research focuses on integrating insect behavior and ecology with emerging technologies to develop innovative approaches for insect pest management in turfgrass systems. She also serves as program leader for the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative Agricultural Formulations Program.
An outstanding educator, Billeisen has earned the 2022 Gertrude Cox Award for Innovative Excellence, the 2023 CALS Outstanding Teaching Award, and the 2024 NC State Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award. She actively serves on university committees, reviews undergraduate research grants, and mentors the undergraduate Entomology Club. 
Lewis Braswell
From Cleveland School, North Carolina, Lewis Braswell leveraged key internships and deep relationships at NC State University to build a thriving career in agriculture. A true Wolfpacker, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and a Ph.D. in entomology, guided by mentors Alan York and Clyde Sorenson.
Braswell began his career with Syngenta in 2019 as an R&D field scientist in Michigan, managing crop protection trials across nearly 20 crops. He returned to Greensboro in 2021 as a product biology lead for early-stage herbicide development before stepping into his current role as technical development lead. 
Today, he supports field agronomists across the South and East Coast Commercial Unit, overseeing commercial product trials and managing Syngenta’s Grow More Experience sites,consistently rated as top industry field demonstrations by agricultural retailers.
Honored with the Syngenta Technical Services TRUST Award, Braswell is an active member of the Southern Weed Science Society and a dedicated leader in Syngenta’s United Way campaigns. 
Morgan Carter
From Advance, North Carolina, Morgan Carter brought her passion for science to NC State University, serving in Student Government and the Inter-Residence Council while earning her bachelor’s in biochemistry in 2014. Guided by key mentors like James Knopp, Margot Daub and Richard Blanton, she discovered a love for research at the intersection of scientific disciplines.
Following U.S. Department of Agriculture fellowships at Cornell University and the University of Arizona, Carter secured a faculty position at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, where she serves as assistant professor of biological sciences. Her groundbreaking research on bacterial-fungal interactions has been published in PNAS and supported by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. 
Recognized by the American Phytopathological Society as a 2024 “Face of the Future,” she recently received a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award to advance her microbial studies.
Deeply dedicated to giving back to North Carolina public higher education, Carter actively mentors community college transfer students and has already trained more than 20 high school, undergraduate and graduate students in her research lab. Through classroom instruction, K-12 outreach and teaching at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, she remains committed to making science accessible and fostering the next generation of researchers.
Amanda Cross
From Raleigh, North Carolina, Amanda Cross discovered her passion for the swine industry while earning her bachelor’s in chemistry in 2009 and bachelor’s in animal science in 2010 at NC State University. She continued her education at NC State to complete her master’s in animal breeding and genetics in 2013. Cross later earned her Ph.D. at South Dakota State University, focusing on gilt development, piglet survival, and sow longevity. She also earned an MBA from Gardner-Webb University.
Today, Cross serves as director of Genetic Services for DNA Swine Genetics. She and her team act as vital liaisons between genetics and live production, overseeing program implementation across nucleus systems, multiplication units, commercial testing programs and customer operations. Her industry leadership earned her the 2026 Midwest Section Outstanding Early Career Agribusiness Award.
Renowned for executing complex technical projects, Cross excels at communicating challenging scientific concepts to pork producers in the field. By explaining “the why” behind genetic strategies, she empowers producers to implement innovative herd practices that enhance long-term business performance and advance the swine industry.
Kevin Curry Jr.
From Oakboro, North Carolina, Kevin Curry Jr. has built a distinguished academic and leadership career grounded in agricultural education. A triple NC State alumnus, Curry earned dual bachlor’s degrees in animal science and agricultural education in 2008, a master’s in agricultural education in 2010, and a doctorate in agricultural and extension education in 2017, mentored by Beth Wilson and Travis Park. 
Curry began his professional journey teaching high school agriculture in Randolph County, North Carolina, where he chartered a new FFA chapter and directed the construction of hands-on barn, greenhouse and laboratory facilities. Today, he serves as associate professor of agricultural education and undergraduate program coordinator in his tenth year on the faculty at Penn State University. He also serves as director of the Center for Professional Personnel Development, preparing future school-based agriculture teachers.
Curry’s research focuses on student motivation, science literacy and agricultural education’s role in developing science citizenship. Deeply committed to service, he advises the Pennsylvania FFA Alumni & Supporters campus chapter and serves on both the Pennsylvania FFA Board of Directors and the Pennsylvania Commission for Agricultural Excellence. He lives by the philosophy that experience, preparation and planning are the true cornerstones of effective teaching.
Randall Etheridge
From Greenville, North Carolina, Randall Etheridge developed a deep connection to eastern North Carolina’s land and waterways that guided his academic journey. At NC State University, he earned three degrees: his bachelor’s in biological engineering in 2008, a master’s in biological and agricultural engineering in 2010, and a Ph.D. in 2013 under advisors Mike Burchell and François Birgand.
Etheridge serves as associate professor with joint appointments in the Department of Engineering and Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering at East Carolina University. His research aims to increase agricultural sustainability by reducing flood risk and improving water quality leaving farms, with a special focus on the interface between agricultural operations and downstream ecosystems. 
As an ecological engineer specializing in water resources, he focuses on optimizing coastal ecosystem creation and restoration to maximize nutrient retention and provide critical ecosystem services. Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, his lab utilizes advanced optical sensors to continuously track dynamic nutrient fluxes.
A licensed professional engineer with over 30 peer-reviewed publications, Etheridge received the 2026 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching at ECU. He remains dedicated to preparing future engineers and developing sustainable solutions for coastal and rural landscapes.
Darius Hinton
From Fayetteville, North Carolina, Darius Hinton has built a distinguished career operating across commercial technology, corporate governance, and national defense. A 2011 NC State graduate, he earned dual degrees in agricultural business management and natural resource economics with minors in military science and agroecology, earning his Army commission through ROTC under the guidance of mentors Arnie Oltmans and Guido van der Hoeven.
Bringing over 19 years of military service, Hinton serves as an Army Reserve major and executive officer of the 374th Finance Battalion, having previously managed a $20 billion federal portfolio for the National Guard Bureau. 
At Google, he serves as business operations program manager for Cloud Supply Chain, optimizing global server infrastructure. He directly attributes his ability to govern complex operational ecosystems to the resource economics frameworks studied at CALS.
A licensed Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant, Certified Management Accountent, Certified Defense Financial Manager, and an National Association of Corporate Directors Board Director-Certified professional, Hinton earned graduate degrees from East Carolina University, North Carolina A&T University and Duke University. Ignited by the Gen. Hugh Shelton Leadership Center, he serves on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Joint Trial Board, the National Society of Black CPAs board, and NC State’s Student Success Advisory Board. He was recently awarded the 2026 Emerging Leaders Award by the American Institute of CPAs.
Hannah Klemmer
From Cary, North Carolina, Hannah Klemmer turned a childhood fascination with food-themed science fair projects into an impactful career. As an undergraduate food science student at NC State, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2021, she became deeply engaged in the NC State CALS community through serving as a Food Science Club leader and CALS career coach under the guidance of key mentor Sara Lane.
Today, Klemmer serves as director of research and development at Alamance Foods, leading product innovation from initial bench-top prototypes through manufacturing line scale-up for aerosol whipped toppings, beverages and freeze pops. 
An accomplished industry speaker, she presented “Crafting the Perfect Creamer” at Chapman University and recently shared insights on the CALS Jumpstart Young Alumni Panel. Klemmer was also recently recognized by the Agriculture Future of America as one of 30 featured alumni in its “Celebrating 30 Voices” anniversary campaign. 
Brendan Runde
Mechanicsville, Maryland, native Brendan Runde turned a childhood of hunting and fishing in rural southern Maryland into a distinguished scientific career. After earning undergraduate degrees in fisheries science and biology at Virginia Tech, Runde completed his master’s in 2017 and Ph.D. in 2021 in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology at NC State’s Center for Marine Science and Technology (CMAST) under the direction of Jeff Buckel.
Following a postdoctoral fellowship with the National Marine Fisheries Service, Runde joined The Nature Conservancy as a marine scientist. In this role, he balances national policy development with hands-on field research, including studying fish populations and habitat impacts near massive offshore wind energy projects off the coast of Virginia Beach. 
A prolific scholar, he has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications with nearly 600 citations, nurturing a passion developed at NC State for creating applied solutions to conservation problems.
Deeply committed to applied fisheries conservation, Runde actively serves as secretary of the Tidewater Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and an associate editor at the North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 
Now living in Charlottesville, Virginia, he brings his research full circle with a hands-on culinary philosophy, safely and legally preparing diverse dishes from his study species to connect even more deeply with the marine life he protects.
The Outstanding Friend Award recognizes individuals, families, or partners who did not graduate from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, but have made a  lasting impact through their collaboration, advocacy, and commitment to advancing the mission of CALS and its community.
Robert B. Fulford Jr.
From Farmville, North Carolina, Robert “Robbie” Fulford Jr. ’92 has built a distinguished 30-year career in agribusiness and the tobacco sector while remaining deeply committed to NC State. A former Wolfpack football player under Coach Dick Sheridan, Fulford earned his bachelor’s degree in business management in 1992 alongside his wife, Jennifer, guided by key CALS faculty including Frank Grainger, Rick Smith, Lawrence Davenport and Bill Collins.
Throughout his career, including roles as vice president of leaf operations at R.J. Reynolds, CEO of U.S. Tobacco Cooperative, and currently executive vice president of United Tobacco Company, Fulford has advanced grower advocacy and industry collaboration. At R.J. Reynolds, he was instrumental in securing the lead corporate gift for the Dr. William K. Collins Tobacco Agronomist Endowment.
A dedicated philanthropist, Fulford established the Robert B. Fulford Office of Student Mentoring in CALS, serving on its board to guide agribusiness management students. He also founded the Fulford Family Opportunity Fund in Poole College of Management and funded the refurbishment of the Robert B. Fulford Family Weight Room in the Murphy Football Center. 
Honored with the prestigious Ronnie Shavlik Award, Fulford serves on the Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and Wolfpack Club Board of Directors, taking immense pride in sharing his deep NC State legacy with his Wolfpack family.
Campus Box 7601
NC State University Campus
Raleigh, NC 27695-7601
NC State is an equal opportunity institution.
Δ