Alumni couple create endowment to support work of BAE graduate students
The endowment established by Dr. William and Glenda Johnson (seated) will fund stipends for graduate students studying bioprocessing, alternative energy and environmental engineering in the College. Behind the Johnsons are (from left) Dr. Steve Lommel, their son Richard Johnson, Dr. Ken Esbenshade, Dr. Johnny Wynne, Ken Sigmon and Dr. Robert Evans.
Photo by Becky Kirkland
On Aug. 22, the William Hugh and Glenda Noble Johnson Graduate Engineering Fellowship Stipend Endowment was established during a signing ceremony at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, N.C. State University. The Johnsons created the endowment to show appreciation for the CALS Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE), of which Dr. William Johnson is an alumnus.
The endowment will provide stipends for graduate students enrolled in the BAE Department in the areas of bioprocessing, alternative energy and environmental engineering.
Dr. Johnny Wynne, CALS dean, hosted the signing event and reception at the CALS Brickhaven Building. Also participating were Dr. Ken Esbenshade, CALS associate dean and director of Academic Programs; Dr. Robert Evans, BAE Department head; and Ken Sigmon, N.C. State associate vice chancellor for University Development.
William Johnson holds three degrees from the BAE Department of Biological Agricultural Engineering: a 1954 bachelor’s degree, 1956 master’s degree and 1961 Ph.D.
After receiving his advanced degrees, Johnson remained in the department in research and teaching, becoming a full professor in 1969. He was the principal researcher in the development of bulk curing, automatic curing, freeze-drying technology, multi-barn solar curing with heat recycling, cut-strip curing methodology and computer-controlled energy management. In addition to holding several patents, Johnson has more than 80 publications. He received the Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit and the Philip Morris Distinguished Achievement Award in Tobacco Science. In 1982, Johnson was appointed assistant director of the N. C. Agricultural Research Service at N.C. State. Retiring in 1994, he remained in part-time work in the BAE Department until 2004.
Glenda Noble Johnson holds a 1958 bachelor’s degree in home economics from UNC-Greensboro, as well as a 1972 master’s degree in counselor education from N.C. State and a 1981 master of divinity degree from Southeastern Seminary. She worked as a home economist, a teacher and also as a research project assistant in the CALS Food Science Department. In midlife she became a United Methodist pastor and later served as superintendent of the Durham district, United Methodist Church.
— Terri Leith
The endowment will provide stipends for graduate students enrolled in the BAE Department in the areas of bioprocessing, alternative energy and environmental engineering.
Dr. Johnny Wynne, CALS dean, hosted the signing event and reception at the CALS Brickhaven Building. Also participating were Dr. Ken Esbenshade, CALS associate dean and director of Academic Programs; Dr. Robert Evans, BAE Department head; and Ken Sigmon, N.C. State associate vice chancellor for University Development.
William Johnson holds three degrees from the BAE Department of Biological Agricultural Engineering: a 1954 bachelor’s degree, 1956 master’s degree and 1961 Ph.D.
After receiving his advanced degrees, Johnson remained in the department in research and teaching, becoming a full professor in 1969. He was the principal researcher in the development of bulk curing, automatic curing, freeze-drying technology, multi-barn solar curing with heat recycling, cut-strip curing methodology and computer-controlled energy management. In addition to holding several patents, Johnson has more than 80 publications. He received the Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit and the Philip Morris Distinguished Achievement Award in Tobacco Science. In 1982, Johnson was appointed assistant director of the N. C. Agricultural Research Service at N.C. State. Retiring in 1994, he remained in part-time work in the BAE Department until 2004.
Glenda Noble Johnson holds a 1958 bachelor’s degree in home economics from UNC-Greensboro, as well as a 1972 master’s degree in counselor education from N.C. State and a 1981 master of divinity degree from Southeastern Seminary. She worked as a home economist, a teacher and also as a research project assistant in the CALS Food Science Department. In midlife she became a United Methodist pastor and later served as superintendent of the Durham district, United Methodist Church.
— Terri Leith