By: James R. Stewart ’08 Sewing Class, c.1898. This photo is believed to be the oldest of women on the A&T campus.  The names of Frances Grimes, Sophia M. Parker, Florence Garrett, and other female staff and alumni from our earliest years are more widely known today than in earlier generations, thanks to new research from the University Archives and Special Collections. Since the last story about the earliest women in Aggieland was published, even more fascinating discoveries have been made about the “Founding Mothers” of North Carolina A&T State University, which we are proud to share once again for Women’s History Month and Founder’s Day.   “The Agricultural and Mechanical…

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is fortunate to have Kimberly Gatling ‘96, J.D., an award-winning legal leader, at the helm of its Board of Trustees. A distinguished partner and Chief Cultural Engagement Officer at Fox Rothschild LLP, one of the nation’s most respected law firms, she has built an impressive career that spans national and international arenas. Gatling’s remarkable journey began at North Carolina A&T, where she laid the foundation for a career that would see her practicing law not only in North Carolina but also before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She is also admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. Her contributions extend…

Tony B. Watlington, Sr, ‘92, Ed.D., has been named the 2025 Superintendent of the Year by the District Administration Leadership Institute. The District Administration Leadership Institute is a national PreK-12 organization that provides leadership development opportunities for superintendents and senior education leaders across the country. Tony B. Watlington, Sr, is the proud Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, the 8th largest school district in the nation, serving nearly 200,000 students. Appointed on April 1, 2022, and officially sworn in on June 16, 2022, Watlington wasted no time launching a bold and ambitious Entry Plan designed to transform the district into the fastest improving large, urban school district in the country.…

For six years, the alumni chapters of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have organized the February One Reading project to encourage children across the United States to learn about the history of the A&T Four. The book, “Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down” by Andrea Davis Pinkney has been read annually during the month of February. Person County Alumni Chapter Goldsboro/Wayne Alumni Chapter Columbus, Ohio Alumni Chapter New York Alumni Chapter Gate City Alumni Chapter Wilmington Alumni Chapter Twin City Alumni Chapter

A&T recently made headlines as the nation’s first HBCU to offer a bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This milestone is one of thousands in our 134-year journey for the “progress of the colored man” and “the industrial development of the state,” as our first president, the Rev. Dr. John O. Crosby, Ph.D., would have put it.  Here are some highlights from Aggieland’s many groundbreaking contributions to STEM in honor of Black History Month.  A&M College, Biographical Laboratory – Library of Congress  Scientific innovations from A&T students date back to the college’s early years. For his graduating thesis, Adam Watson, one of the “Superior Seven” of the Class of 1899,…

On Feb. 1, 1960, at about 4:30 p.m., Ezell Blair Jr. (Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil and David Richmond entered the Woolworth’s Department Store on Elm Street in Greensboro, North Carolina, to be served at the whites-only lunch counter. The lives of these four freshmen, along with the faculty and students of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College, the city of Greensboro and the entire world would never be the same again. Sixty-five years ago, they were simply unable to purchase a cup of coffee at a segregated lunch counter. Since then, streets, buildings and scholarships have been named in their honor. The very lunch counter they had been…

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings Cedric Moore, a native of Glenn Dale, Maryland, discovered his artistic talent at a young age. As a child, he spent his school downtime sketching portraits, airplanes and cartoon characters. His natural ability earned him top placements in school fine arts competitions, prompting his mother to enroll him in art lessons at 11. During this time, his skills flourished, particularly in realistic portraiture. However, at 12, his perfectionism led to frustration, causing him to abandon art entirely or so he thought. Education and Challenges In 2012, Moore enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, uncertain of his future but seeking a stable career.…

Many years ago, on the edge of a kingdom called Aggieland, stood a magnificent 20-room castle known as Magnolia Castle or Dudley Mansion. This grand estate, which once sat at 327 North Dudley Street, was not just a home; it was a sanctuary for education, community, and culture. It served as a library, a school, and a hub for social events in Greensboro, North Carolina. The castle’s beauty was reflected in its fine furniture, exquisite works of art, stained-glass windows, and its celebrated dinner parties and pageants held on the sprawling lawns. The home’s royal residents were James B. Dudley and his wife Susie B. Dudley. James, affectionately known as…

Aggies, mark your calendars! Giving Tuesday is just around the corner on December 3! Your support has always been the cornerstone of our university’s success. This Giving Tuesday, let’s come together to create opportunities, empower dreams, and foster innovation. Your generosity can pave the way for scholarships, groundbreaking research, and initiatives that enrich the student experience. To give, text AGGIE to 71777 or click here.

Nestled between A. W. Curtis Hall, Murphy Hall, and the Edward B. Fort Building, and sitting above the Holland Bowl is the massive glass F. A. Williams Cafeteria. Since 1974, thousands of Aggies, their families, campus visitors, and friends have dined and socialized here. The building has been constantly remodeled to keep up with food and dining tastes, creating unique memories for each generation. College and university students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have always wanted to eat well, and the history of how Williams came to be fits into how young Aggies voice what they want.   Many cannot recall a time without Williams and may find…