With enrollment hovering at 13,885 as of fall 2023, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) is the largest historically Black university in the country. With roots dating back to 1891, the university has evolved to address new technologies, especially in agriculture, and prepare readily employable graduates.
Dr. Leonard Williams, the director and professor of food safety and microbiology at N.C. A&T Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies, is working on developing an all-natural, antiviral disinfectant with promising results in controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
At present, none of the nation’s 101 HBCUs has Research 1 status, which refers to doctoral universities with high research activity. N.C. A&T is joining other HBCUs, like Morgan State University in Baltimore, in taking steps to achieve that prestigious classification. At the institution, academic studies are divided among nine colleges, two schools, and an extended campus, each with a specific focus. The number of master’s degree and doctoral degree programs continues to grow and the faculty is achieving national and international recognition for its research.
Equity
Seeing so many African American undergraduate and graduate students excelling in STEM fields is inspiring to Smith-Jackson. Citing the shortage of STEM graduates across the nation, she says these students are filling positions of impact, including national security. Looking at the average first salary offers for recent graduates, she points out that N.C. A&T is the second highest among institutions in the University of North Carolina System.
“We graduate the very highest number of Black engineers, Black women engineers, Black agriculturists,” says Smith-Jackson. “It’s quite important that more STEM degrees are being produced in the United States because without that we just won’t be able to address the very difficult issues that require all disciplines, but also require STEM, like climate change.”
