Celebrating Excellence in Community Engagement: 2026 Engaged University Award Winners

On March 24, 2026, NC State University held its annual Engaged University Awards Ceremony and Luncheon at the NC State University Club to honor the faculty, staff and partners who embody the university’s commitment to community-engaged scholarship.

This year’s ceremony followed the university’s prestigious Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Reclassification in January—a rigorous designation earned through the collective effort of dozens of departments and units—that recognizes NC State’s institutional commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relationships with the community.

Fulfilling the Land-Grant Mission

The awards celebrate the spirit of the Wolfpack 2030: Powering the Extraordinary strategic plan, specifically Goal 3, which seeks to “expand and advance our engagement with and service to North Carolina and beyond, defining the standard for a 21st-century land-grant university”. As a research-extensive land-grant institution, NC State is dedicated to the creation and application of knowledge through active engagement with public and private partners.

During the ceremony, Provost Warwick Arden emphasized the importance of recognizing scholars who go above and beyond to apply their expertise to pressing societal concerns, noting that their work demonstrates evidence-based, positive change. “We charge our community of thinkers and doers to seek out problems and solve them,” he said. “And that is exactly what this group of awardees has done.”

This commitment to “Thinking and Doing” ensures that university scholarship remains grounded in the needs of North Carolina citizens, fostering a culture of civic responsibility and collaborative problem-solving.

2026 Award Recipients

The following individuals and teams were recognized for their outstanding contributions to extension, engagement and economic development:

Outstanding Extension and Engagement Awards These awards are presented to faculty and staff who have demonstrated excellence in their respective colleges or units over the past five years.

• Xiaomeng Fang, Ph.D. (Wilson College of Textiles)
• Melvin (Jai) Jackson, Ph.D. (Office for Faculty Excellence)
• Natalie S. Murr, Ph.D. (College of Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Amanda Mills, Ph.D. (Wilson College of Textiles)
• Kalyca L. Becktel, Ph.D. (College of Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Jess Epsten, MSLS (Institute for Emerging Issues)
• Danjue Chen, Ph.D. (College of Engineering)
• Gavin Smith, Ph.D. (College of Design)
• Jim Kerns, Ph.D. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
• Justin Whitehill, Ph.D. (College of Natural Resources)
• Katy May, Ph.D. (Office of Research and Innovation)
• Kimberly A. Bush, Ph.D. (College of Natural Resources)
• Marie Muller, Ph.D. (College of Engineering)
• Dara Bloom, Ph.D. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)

Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement The following recipients of the Outstanding Award were also inducted into the Academy in recognition of work that reflects issues of critical interest to the state.

• Danjue Chen, Ph.D. (College of Engineering)
• Gavin Smith, Ph.D. (College of Design)
• Jim Kerns, Ph.D. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
• Justin Whitehill, Ph.D. (College of Natural Resources)
• Katy May, Ph.D. (Office of Research and Innovation)
• Kimberly A. Bush, Ph.D. (College of Natural Resources)
• Marie Muller, Ph.D. (College of Engineering)
• Dara Bloom, Ph.D. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)

2025 Alumni Outstanding Engagement Scholarship Award As the “crowning achievement” of the series, this award recognizes a scholar with a strong portfolio of community-engaged scholarship.

• Dara Bloom, Ph.D. (Agricultural and Human Sciences)

William L. Turner Award for Outstanding Contributions to Extension and Continuing Education Recognizing distinguished leadership and dedication to the land-grant mission.

• Jennifer Bowman (Associate Director of Quality and Evaluation, NC DHHS)

NC State Economic Development Partnership Award Recognizing superior work in leveraging university capabilities to promote job creation and economic vitality.

• Chris Johnson and the Johnston County Economic Development Leadership Team

Dr. Opal Mann Green Engagement and Scholarship Award This team-based award recognizes excellence in “collaborative democratic strategies” and significant community contributions.

• #PassTheMicYouth: Co-led by Dr. Maru Gonzalez and Dr. Christy Byrd, this multimedia program amplifies youth voices and strengthens civic engagement.
• The Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research: Led by Dr. Audrey J. Jaeger, this team was recognized for the NC Reconnect program, which supports adult learners and removes barriers to re-enrollment.

The Power of Partnerships

The ceremony also acknowledged the Carnegie Community Engagement Reclassification Task Force, a 40-member group representing every college on campus, whose collective work secured the university’s prestigious re-designation.

Recognizing these scholars and partners is vital because society’s toughest problems can only be solved through powerful multidisciplinary partnerships and an entrepreneurial approach. By celebrating these achievements, NC State reinforces its commitment to being a solutions center for North Carolina, where research and teaching directly improve lives and drive social and economic development.