Breaking down disciplinary boundaries for academic innovation sets NC State apart amongst its land-grant peers and other higher education institutions. This excellence, supported by the university’s outstanding faculty, staff and students, will take center stage at the 2026 Interdisciplinary Excellence Celebration on Monday, May 4.
“We’re excited about the potential for the Interdisciplinary Excellence Celebration to foment conversations and cross-campus research and teaching that will elevate NC State’s reputation as a premier R1 university,” said Levent Atici, associate vice provost for interdisciplinary faculty and student engagement. “I hope that all attendees will take away from this event an excitement about and renewed commitment to interdisciplinarity in their teaching, research and service.”
The event will recognize the impact of developing interdisciplinary educational and training programs at NC State, with a focus on celebrating the Biotechnology Program and its campuswide impact. Additionally, the gathering will celebrate the leadership and impact of Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick Arden. Attendees will hear from Arden and other academic leaders, as well as graduate and undergraduate students and alumni. Integrative Sciences Initiative Executive Director Joshua Pierce will talk about a new era of integrative science at NC State, and the legacy of the late Bob Kelly and his contributions to the Biotechnology Program will be honored.
Biotechnology Program Impact
“Interdisciplinary work is not simply something we encourage. It is something we have invested in and built around, and in many ways has shaped how we approach research and collaboration,” said Provost Arden. “It reflects a belief that innovation happens when ideas collide, when expertise is shared, and when we create environments where collaboration is not the exception, but the expectation. The Biotechnology Program, led by the late Bob Kelly, is one of the most powerful expressions of that belief.”
The program has shaped generations of scholars, advancing discovery in ways that have real and lasting impact. It has strengthened NC State’s reputation as a place where innovation thrives, and it has done so by creating a culture where collaboration is not an aspiration, but a daily practice. The reach of this program extends across campus and into industries, research institutions and communities around the world.
Student and Alumni Connections
Students and alumni will also engage with the audience at the Interdisciplinary Excellence Celebration, showcasing the impact of interdisciplinary education both on and beyond campus. Jonathan Conway, a BIT Ph.D. alumnus and assistant professor at Princeton University, will reflect on how the program shapes academic journeys and career trajectories, touching on graduate research, mentorship and the role of the BIT community in their development. Heather Miller, a professor of biochemistry at High Point University, will share her experience as a teaching postdoc in BIT and how it influenced her approach to science education, and will speak on bridging research and pedagogy in an interdisciplinary environment. Ian Chapman, a postdoctoral fellow at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, will examine how BIT shaped his academic journey and career trajectory.
Specific to the Integrative Sciences Initiative (ISI), Executive Director Joshua Pierce will present a vision and strategic direction for the initiative, and talk about opportunities for collaboration, engagement and growth. Juman Odeh, an undergraduate student involved in the ISI, will speak about his research experiences, the value of an integrative approach to his work, and what ISI means to the next generation of scientists.
Interdisciplinary Academic Programs Collaboration Advisory Committee
Integrating interdisciplinarity into an NC State education — following the example of programs like BIT — gained momentum several years ago after Provost Arden issued a charge to the Interdisciplinary Academic Programs Collaboration Advisory Committee. This involved the committee creating a framework and guidelines to further interdisciplinary efforts and codify expectations of those devoting time and resources to these critical efforts.
The committee, chaired by Senior Vice Provost for Academic Strategy and Innovation Helen Chen, proposed a university-wide framework to strengthen interdisciplinary academic programs by establishing sustainable governance models, formalizing faculty engagement and evaluation guidelines, designing financially viable program structures, and enabling strategic cross-college collaboration. The report also highlights supporting strategies such as curriculum innovation and student engagement. Together, these recommendations aim to position NC State as a national leader in interdisciplinary education aligned with Wolfpack 2030: Powering the Extraordinary, the university’s most recent strategic plan. The Interdisciplinary Academic Programs Collaboration Advisory Committee can be found here.
Warwick A. Arden Interdisciplinary Teaching Excellence Award
As part of celebrating interdisciplinarity at NC State, the Warwick A. Arden Interdisciplinary Teaching Excellence Award was presented for the second year.
Maru Gonzalez, associate professor and youth development specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, is the winner of the 2026 Warwick A. Arden Interdisciplinary Teaching Excellence Award. She received the award for her course, Spain: Culture and Community Engagement in Barcelona and the Camino de Santiago. The award recognizes exceptional creativity, innovation and effectiveness in integrating interdisciplinary approaches into teaching at NC State.
Spain: Culture and Community Engagement in Barcelona and the Camino de Santiago is the Agricultural and Human Sciences’ Department first-ever study abroad program. Officially launched in 2023, this immersive, interdisciplinary course weaves together education, youth and community development, cultural studies, international politics and agriculture within a global context. Students examine social issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives while developing cross-cultural competencies that enhance both their personal and professional growth. The program attracts undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of majors—including education, agriculture, textiles, business, social work, communication and engineering—whose diverse academic backgrounds enrich dialogue and collaborative learning. The program’s wide age range of participants (most recently spanning 19 to 53) further deepens the exchange of perspectives and lived experiences. Student evaluations, averaging between 4.8 and 5.0, consistently praise the program’s rich opportunities for cross-cultural engagement and interdisciplinary inquiry, frequently citing its transformative impact.
“I am happy to recognize Dr. Gonzalez for her commitment to creative and innovative teaching and learning practices, as well as her effective integration of interdisciplinary approaches in her teaching,” said Provost Arden. “Cross-cultural engagement, reflection and interdisciplinary collaboration are core features of her course. The course’s integrative elements make the program a model of interdisciplinary, high-impact global learning that equips students to connect across differences and apply their knowledge to complex real-world contexts.”
Gonzalez will be recognized at the University Teaching Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on April 21 and in the spring 2026 commencement program.
Additional nominees for the award were:
- Michael Daniele, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- April Kedrowicz, professor, Department of Clinical Sciences
- Richard Spontak, Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Justin Tackett, assistant professor, Department of English
