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Burke to Take the Helm of Crop and Soil Sciences

Faculty and Staff

Man holds out cut orange sweetpotato in front of crowd

Nov 12, 2025

20 Years to Grow on: Future-proofing NC State’s Covington Sweetpotato

As NC State University's renowned Covington sweetpotato turns 20, plant breeders are working tirelessly to add resistance to a new pest, using the latest tools. 
a group of people gather outside in a building courtyard

Nov 11, 2025

CALS Wolfpack Harvest: ‘A Brand-New Tradition’

Alumni, faculty, staff, students and prospective students came together on Nov. 8 for the inaugural CALS Wolfpack Harvest to celebrate everything that makes the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences so special. 
a man wearing a red quarter zip sweater sits in front of computers and high tech equipment

Nov 10, 2025

Lommel Named Interim Head of Horticultural Science

Steve Lommel, a long-time leader with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will serve as interim head of the Department of Horticultural Science effective Jan. 2, 2026. 
Patterson Hall

Oct 30, 2025

Nomination Committee to Assist in Search for Next CALS Associate Dean of Research, Director of NCARS

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has launched a nomination committee to aid in the search for the next associate dean of research and director of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service. 
terri long

Oct 13, 2025

Long To Lead Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

Terri A. Long, a respected CALS faculty member and platform director for Education and Workforce Development for the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, will take the helm as the head of the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, effective Jan. 2. 
a woman wearing glasses and a black blazer and a man wearing a blue sports jacket and red neck tie

Sep 29, 2025

NC State Announces Interim Leaders for Agricultural and Life Sciences Research

Amy Grunden and Loren Fisher will become interim associate deans and co-directors of the research arm of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on Nov. 1, following the retirement of Steven Lommel. 
Portrait of Rodolphe Barrangou

Aug 26, 2025

Focused on the Future

Rodolphe Barrangou, 2025 CALS Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, mentors the next generation of scientists at NC State, where the CRISPR pioneer and biotech entrepreneur found a home. 
Two people holding trays of seedlings in a lighted indoor space

Aug 13, 2025

Seed2Grow Spotlight: Rooted-in-tech’s Ricardo Hernandez

Building on a decade of research into creating conditions ideal for plant growth, an NC State horticultural scientist has launched an ag tech startup to deliver high-quality seedlings tailored to farmers’ and gardeners’ needs. 
A green-metallic New World screwworm fly on a branch

Jul 30, 2025

What to Know About the New World Screwworm

NC State University entomologist Maxwell Scott discusses efforts to eradicate the New World screwworm and new genetic approaches under development for controlling the parasite, which feeds on living tissue in livestock and other mammals. 
a man wearing glases, a light colored button down shirt and gray sports jacket stands in front of green bushes.

Jul 21, 2025

Burke to Take the Helm of Crop and Soil Sciences

Two-time NC State alumnus Ian Burke, a professor and researcher specializing in weed biology and ecology, will rejoin the Wolfpack as head of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences effective Oct. 1.