Provost’s Corner: April 2017

Dear faculty and staff,

It is hard to believe that just earlier this academic year you were reading the first version of our newsletter. We’re only a month shy of spring commencement, where more than 5,300 NC State students will become graduates of our world-class university.

The reason our students make it to commencement ready to solve society’s grand challenges is you — our outstanding faculty and staff. This includes forestry professor Ron Sederoff, who won the 2017 Marcus Wallenberg Foundation Prize for his scientific contributions to the field of forestry. In addition, earlier this month, more than 30 of faculty received recognition for your contributions to NC State academics at the 2016-2017 University Teaching Awards Luncheon and Ceremony.

Maria Oliver-Hoyo, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. We’re grateful for her commitment to teaching, research achievements and extensive involvement in the NC State community. Congratulations to everyone honored — we wouldn’t be where we are today without you.

In addition to excellent faculty and staff at our own university, we also enjoy strong partnerships with higher education institutions around the world. This includes the University of Adelaide and the University of Wollongong, two of Australia’s top research universities. I’ll be visiting both this month in a trip designed to strengthen our international ties and explore further teaching, research, learning and service opportunities for faculty and students.

From teaching that inspires students and makes the university a better, more welcoming place for all, to relationships around the world that elevate our academics, we have much to be proud of at NC State. I want to congratulate you on what you have achieved so far and look forward to  what the last month of our academic year holds.

To keep up with all academic and faculty- or staff-related developments, follow @NCStateProvost on Twitter.

Until next time,

Warwick Arden
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost