Scott To Lead Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Durelle “Scotty” Scott will take the helm as head of NC State University’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, effective Aug. 1. 

Scott, an engineering professor, administrator and expert on water quality along river corridors, was selected following a national search.

“BAE is known across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond for their role in developing outstanding graduates, producing research that contributes to improving our lives now and in the future, and delivering outstanding Extension programming,” Scott said. 

“One of the other motivations I have related to this position is contributing to sustainable agriculture production that maintains jobs, feeds people, and sustains the environment for future generations.”

Scott comes to NC State from Virginia Tech, where he has led undergraduate programs since 2019 as associate department head for the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. He has been an affiliated faculty member with the university’s Global Change Center.

Scott’s track record of forging impactful partnerships, combined with NC State’s ascent in U.S. News & World Report rankings for graduate and undergraduate programs in biological and agricultural engineering, positions the department for continued success, said Garey Fox, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“Dr. Scott’s deep passion for academics, research and extension/outreach, gives us every confidence that he will further elevate the national recognition of the department, ensuring it remains at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology into North Carolina’s vital agriculture and life science industries, truly future-proofing our vision for the state,” Fox said.

Scott’s research has focused on improving stream and wetland restoration by understanding how natural systems behave in the face of change. He served as co-lead of a U.S. Geological Powell Center survey project that brought university and federal scientists together to assess water quality across the U.S. 

“My initial goal when I arrive on campus will be to collaboratively identify opportunities for the program to focus on over the next two to three years,” Scott said. “For example, I’m confident that BAE is well positioned to foster new partnerships across NC State and beyond to tackle complex, interdisciplinary challenges, which is even more important today in the changing funding landscape.”

If it sounds as if Scott wants to get a running start, that’s true. As an avid participant in 5Ks, marathons and mountain biking, he hopes to connect with other caffeine-fueled local athletes. Last year he completed a long mountain bike race in Colorado that brought him alongside streams he studied as a graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering in 2001.

Scott completed postdoctoral fellowships with the Landcare Research Fellowship in New Zealand and the National Research Council’s U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia. His bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering are also from CU Boulder.

Scott grew up in a small town near Scranton, Pennsylvania, home to hayfields, fresh corn and vine-ripened tomatoes. He remembers playing in a stream and fishing from a rowboat on a lake, foreshadowing his career. His family nicknamed him “Scotty.” (He’s Durelle Scott IV.) He and his wife are the parents of three children.

Fox expressed his thanks to Lingjuan Wang-Li, who has served as interim department head since August 2023. 

“Under Dr. Wang-Li’s leadership, BAE has continued to thrive during a time of transition,” Fox said. “We appreciate her dedicated service as interim department head.”