North Carolina Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Foundation

Mission Statement

The North Carolina Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Foundation enhances research programs by seeking to increase public and private support for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.  This support creates new opportunities for CALS faculty, staff and students to innovate and pursue excellence in research by developing and sustaining critical partnerships that:

• Enhance synergistic research among the agricultural and life sciences;
• Foster urban and rural economic development and stewardship of natural resources; and
• Broaden awareness for CALS research achievements.

Strategic Objectives

• Build resources for the discovery, development, and commercialization of new ideas and technologies.
• Develop and articulate high-value research propositions.
• Develop and implement innovative funding programs.
• Simplify business processes and other interactions between the private sector and the university.
• Provide advocacy for the programs and research achievements of the College.

North Carolina Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Foundation names inaugural board of directors

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University recently launched a foundation to build public and private support for research in the college. According to its mission, the new North Carolina Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Foundation will “create new opportunities for faculty, staff and students to innovate and pursue excellence in research.”

Representing industry and academia, the foundation’s board of directors held its first meeting on May 17. Dr. Steven Leath, the college’s associate dean and director for research, facilitated the meeting, which included the election of foundation officers.

“We are extremely grateful to this tremendous group of individuals for their service to the college,” said Dean Johnny Wynne, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “They will help make possible research that will impact our industries, our economy, our environment, and the health, well-being and quality of life for all citizens of North Carolina.”

Founding Board Members

William H. Culpepper, Jr., President
President and CEO
SePRO Corporation
Carmel, Ind.

Mark D. Stowers, Vice President
Vice President of Research & Development
Poet Research
Sioux Falls, S.D.

David L. Davenport, Secretary
Manager
J.P. Davenport & Son
Greenville, N.C.

Eugene R. Charville, Finance Committee Chair
Chief Executive Officer
East Carolina Farm Credit
Raleigh, N.C.

Nicholas M. Hamon, Board Development and External Relations Chair
Director, Development and Technical Services
Bayer Environmental Science
Research Triangle Park, N.C.

John R. Anderson, Jr., Tech Advisory Committee Co-chair
Technology Development Manager and Lead of Technical Resources Team
Monsanto Company
Raleigh, N.C. 

Michael A. Luther, Tech Advisory Committee Co-chair
Vice President of Drug Discovery
Merck Frosst Center for Therapeutic Research
Kirkland, Quebec

Kendall Hill, Cohort of 2008 Representative
Owner
Tull Hill Farms, Inc.
Kinston, N.C.

Roger R. Black, Cohort of 2009 Representative
Vice President of Product Development
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Winston-Salem, N.C. 

Joe K. Hampton, Cohort of 2010 Representative
Superintendent, Piedmont Research Station
Owner, Back Creek Angus
Salisbury, N.C.

Catherine A. Ricks, Cohort of 2011 Representative
Retired Vice President
Embrex, Inc.
Raleigh, N.C.

David Bubeck
Research Director
Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Johnston, Iowa

Richard Childress
President and CEO, Richard Childress Racing
Proprietor, Yadkin River Angus and Childress Vineyards
Welcome, N.C.

William K. Collins, Sr.
Retired Coordinator of Tobacco Programs
Current Director of Senior Gifts
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, N.C. State University
Raleigh, N.C.

Henry P. Fleming
Professor Emeritus, Department of Food Science
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, N.C. State University
Raleigh, N.C.

Clyde Higgs
Vice President of Business Development, North Carolina Research Campus
Castle & Cooke
Kannapolis, N.C.

Ray E. Hollowell, Jr.
President
Renaissance Construction Company
Manteo, N.C.

Ted Katsigianis
Vice President of Agriculture, Environmental Issues, and Natural Resources
The Biltmore Estate
Asheville, N.C.

Martin Mascianica
Director of Business Services
BASF Corporation
Research Triangle Park, N.C.

T. Dawn Parks
Co-owner and Secretary-Treasurer
P&D Automotive Systems, Inc.
Pelham, N.C.

Thomas H.  Roberg
Chief Executive Officer, LaamScience, Inc.
Chief Development Officer, Biomarck Pharmaceuticals
Raleigh, N.C.

John A. Ryals
President and CEO
Metabolon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Durham, N.C.

Paul Zorner
Adjunct Professor
N.C. State University and Clemson University
Encinitas, Calif.

Click here for photos from the inaugural board meeting.

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