Woodson Has Built Legacy of Research Excellence
During his 14-year tenure as chancellor, Randy Woodson has catalyzed the university’s research enterprise.
NC State has always been home to brilliant scholars and innovators; as a land-grant institution, the university has been conducting and translating groundbreaking research to benefit North Carolinians since its founding in 1887. After Chancellor Randy Woodson took the helm in 2010, our research enterprise began experiencing monumental growth at every level.
In the past 14 years, NC State has surpassed its previous prestige to become a truly preeminent research university.
Woodson made a pivotal change a few months into his tenure by separating the internal components of what was the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. That office reported to the chancellor and included the Graduate School, which was connected to the provost’s office. Woodson made the university’s research office and graduate school distinct. Today, the Office of Research and Innovation reports to the chancellor, and the Graduate School reports to the provost.
“It showed a different emphasis and strategic focus,” said Genevieve Garland, NC State’s senior associate vice chancellor for research development and operations and chief of staff. “It made a statement on behalf of research for the institution.”
ORI lays a strong foundation for research excellence by helping university researchers develop proposals, secure funding, license intellectual property, launch startups, promote their work and connect with industry partners.
It made a statement on behalf of research for the institution.
By the numbers, the advancement of our research is clear. In fiscal year 2017, for the first time in university history, NC State surpassed $500 million in research expenditures. NC State has met or exceeded the $500 million level every year since; in fiscal year 2023, the university spent $633 million in research expenditures.
At NC State, researchers go beyond creating and teaching knowledge. The university is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation for research commercialization among public universities. Researchers have launched more than 190 startups and spinoffs based on NC State research, which add more than $1.2 billion to North Carolina’s economy every year.
This success in research commercialization is benefited by the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund, which Woodson launched in 2010. The seed fund boosts research projects that are in the early stages of the commercialization process, bridging the gap between public and private funding.
“It’s early support for faculty; it’s the type of investment that they wouldn’t get otherwise,” Garland said. “It’s been incredibly impactful.”
To date, the fund has awarded $4.5 million to 81 projects and has helped launch nearly 40 startups. In 2024, it backed projects developing nontoxic batteries, engineering disease-resistant and drought-tolerant corn, bolstering computer chips’ defenses against hackers, and more.
In addition to fostering infrastructure and innovation at NC State, Woodson has promoted interdisciplinary collaboration. The Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program recognizes that the complex challenges facing the world span multiple academic disciplines. When the program launched in 2011, it offered faculty members the opportunity to pitch ideas for the creation of new research clusters to tackle such challenges.
Today, 21 clusters study topics such as carbon electronics, geospatial analytics, leadership in public science, precision medicine and visual narrative. The program has become a national model for breaking down barriers between disciplines.
“One of the things that was really important to us was to encourage faculty to work across disciplinary boundaries — particularly in research but also in teaching that research,” said Provost Warwick Arden. “Developing a really strong portfolio of interdisciplinary research programs is one of the things that I think has led to a lot of success.”
As Woodson nears retirement, the university is cementing his legacy of research excellence.
In September, NC State’s Board of Trustees announced a new name for the building housing the Integrative Sciences Initiative: Woodson Hall, which is expected to finish construction in 2026.
“We consider his championing of interdisciplinary studies to be a signature element of Chancellor’s Woodson’s tenure at NC State,” said Stanhope Kelly, former chair of the Board of Trustees. “Naming the new Integrative Sciences Building in his honor will be a tremendous foundation to build on his legacy going forward.”
Chancellor Randy Woodson has announced he will retire on June 30, 2025. This article is part of the Celebrating Transformation initiative, a yearlong effort to honor the chancellor’s 14 years of service and to recognize the university’s extraordinary achievements under his leadership. Learn more and join the celebration at https://transformation.ncsu.edu/.
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