Tolson honored at Biotech and CALS gathering
Norris Tolson shared biotech industry news with fellow CALS alumni and friends.
Photo by Art Latham
On Jan. 29, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni, faculty, students and friends gathered with biotechnology industry representatives for “Biotech and CALS: A Bright Future” at the N.C. Biotechnology Center, Research Triangle Park. The event, hosted by the College, the CALS Alumni and Friends Society and the N.C. Agricultural Foundation Inc., was a reception in honor of E. Norris Tolson, president and CEO of the N.C. Biotechnology Center and a 1962 CALS alumnus. But it also served as opportunity to celebrate the partnership between the biotech industry and the College, as more than 90 guests heard industry presentations from Tolson, CALS Dean Johnny Wynne and others, networked with biotech industry alumni and executives, and received biotech career tips from the CALS Career Services office.
Tolson, who graduated from CALS in crop science and agribusiness, spoke of growing up on a farm in Edgecombe County, where he worked with Cooperative Extension agents. “What we do here at the Biotechnology Center is much like what Extension does – partnership building with people like you at N.C. State University, who can help us further biotechnology,” he said. “And we don’t have a better partnership than we have with N.C. State and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
“Of course, biotechnology … is a statewide effort, and we have five offices across the state that, by helping to promote a faster growth curve, enhance the things we can do in biotechnology with NCSU and the other colleges and universities all over the state to improve the quality of life for all our citizens.”
—Terri Leith
Tolson, who graduated from CALS in crop science and agribusiness, spoke of growing up on a farm in Edgecombe County, where he worked with Cooperative Extension agents. “What we do here at the Biotechnology Center is much like what Extension does – partnership building with people like you at N.C. State University, who can help us further biotechnology,” he said. “And we don’t have a better partnership than we have with N.C. State and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
“Of course, biotechnology … is a statewide effort, and we have five offices across the state that, by helping to promote a faster growth curve, enhance the things we can do in biotechnology with NCSU and the other colleges and universities all over the state to improve the quality of life for all our citizens.”
—Terri Leith