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The Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
A 1957 black and white photo of Industrial engineering students performing a time and motion study.

The Timeline

The timeline traces NC State ISE’s journey from its 1930 founding to today, exploring the milestones that shaped our department.

Last Updated: 07/10/2026 | All information is accurate and still up-to-date

ISE Communications wrote the following departmental history. This history is based on previous works prepared by former department heads Robert Carson and Clifton Anderson, assistant department head Clarence Smith and research conducted in the University Archives of the DH Hill Library. ISE Communications added the latest information with assistance from department heads Paul Cohen and Julie Swann.

JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE TIME IN NC State ISE HISTORY

1930s–1940s: Establishment and Early Years

  • 1930

    Industrial Engineering curriculum first appears in the NC State catalog

    NC State becomes the 16th Industrial Engineering program in the United States

  • 1931–1932

    Howard Burton Shaw listed as Professor of Industrial Engineering

    Shaw also serves as Director of the Engineering Experiment Station

  • 1932–1933

    Nine students enrolled in Industrial Engineering

    Howard Burton Shaw is the sole faculty member

  • 1933

    First BSIE degrees awarded to Henry Saunders and Harold Thomason

  • 1934

    Additional BSIE degrees awarded, including to Raymond Shafer

  • 1938

    Frank Groseclose named Department Head of Industrial Engineering

  • 1940

    Department moves to Rooms 125–132, 1911 Dormitory

  • 1943

    Sudden death of Professor Howard Burton Shaw

    Industrial Engineering instruction ceases

  • 1943-1948

    No IE degrees awarded

1946–1950: Reactivation and Accreditation

  • 1946–1947

    Department reactivated

    Ronald Wiggins serves as Acting Department Head

  • 1947

    Graduate program in Industrial Engineering initiated

  • 1948

    David Henderson returns as Department Head

    Undergraduate enrollment reaches 135

    BSIE program receives initial accreditation

    First MSIE degree awarded to C. A. Swerdlove

    BS in Furniture Manufacturing and Management established

  • 1949

    Park Shops laboratories transferred to Industrial Engineering

  • 1950

    Department moves into Riddick Engineering Laboratories

    44 BSIE degrees awarded

    First BSFMM degree awarded to Charles Tripp

1950s: Curriculum Growth and Leadership Transitions

  • 1954

    NC State converts from a quarter to a semester system

    Statistics course added to BSIE curriculum

    Joint BSIE/BSFMM/MSIE five-year program proposed

    David Henderson leaves the department

    Carl Hart serves as Acting Department Head

  • 1955

    Robert Carson named Department Head

  • 1956

    Alpha Pi Mu chapter established at NC State

  • 1957

    Carson becomes Associate Dean of Engineering

    Clifton A. Anderson named Department Head

    Major BSIE curriculum revision implemented

1960s: Graduate Expansion and Doctoral Program

  • 1962

    Ralph Fadum named Dean of Engineering

    Cooperative Engineering Education Program initiated

  • 1964

    Jay Goldman joins faculty as Professor

  • 1965

    Ph.D. program proposal development begins

  • 1967

    Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering approved by Board of Trustees

  • 1968

    Fortran programming course (CSC 111) added

    First Henry Foscue Professor named

    James T. Ryan Chair endowed

  • 1969

    First PhD in IE awarded to Manmohan Wig

    First off-campus MIE degrees awarded (Greensboro)

  • 1970

    Salah Elmaghraby named inaugural Director of Operations Research Program

1970s: Enrollment Growth and Program Maturation

  • 1973

    William Smith named Department Head

  • 1974

    Furniture R&D Applications Institute funded by NSF

  • 1975–1976

    Smith serves as National President of the Institute of Industrial Engineers

  • 1977

    First C. A. Anderson Outstanding IE Faculty Award presented

  • 1979

    Furniture Manufacturing and Management enrollment peaks at 92 students

1980s: Peak Enrollment and Student Achievement

  • 1981

    Department celebrates 50th anniversary

    Strategic plan “IE Department Plan for the 80s” released

  • 1982–1983

    Undergraduate enrollment peaks at 535 students

    John Canada serves as Acting Department Head

  • 1983

    Thom Hodgson named Department Head

    IMSEI Graduate Program initiated

  • 1985

    First year with over 100 BSIE degrees awarded

  • 1989

    Total degrees awarded in one year exceed 150

1990s: Centers, Technology and Outreach

  • 1990

    Stephen Roberts named Department Head

  • 1991

    Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center established

  • 1993

    The BSFMM degree has been replaced by BSIE (Furniture Manufacturing track)

    Graduate enrollment exceeds 100

    The BSIE degree has been reduced to 122 credit hours

  • 1994

    Ergonomics Center of North Carolina established

  • 1996

    First real-time, internet-based engineering course taught

  • 1999

    Jim Wilson named Department Head

2000s: National Recognition and Transformation

  • 2001

    Thom Hodgson elected to the National Academy of Engineering

  • 2003

    Department becomes first academic unit to own an Electron Beam Melting machine

  • 2005

    Department returns to 111 Lampe Drive Building

    $10M gift from Ed Fitts

    Department named the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

  • 2006

    Undergraduate simulation team wins IIE/Rockwell competition

    Four students earn university valedictorian recognition

    Department celebrates 75th anniversary

  • 2007

    Paul Cohen named Department Head

2010s–Present: New Home and Future Focus

  • 2009

    State funding approved, then revoked, for Centennial Campus move

  • 2017

    Julie Swann named the first female Department Head

  • 2019

    Expansion in human-systems engineering, advanced manufacturing and data science

  • 2020

    Fitts-Woolard Hall opens on Centennial Campus

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The history of Industrial and Systems Engineering at NC State shows how strong leadership shapes a department’s timeline. From the very beginning, each department head influenced the direction of that timeline. During the Great Depression, leaders such as Wallace Riddick and Howard Shaw established a clear vision. Although resources were scarce, they placed Industrial Engineering firmly on the university’s timeline.

After World War II, David Henderson restarted the program and reset its timeline for growth. As veterans returned to campus, he expanded enrollment and secured accreditation. Because of his steady leadership, the department regained strength and confidence. Soon afterward, Clifton Anderson modernized the curriculum and strengthened research. Under his guidance, the approval of the Ph.D. program marked a major milestone on the department’s timeline.

In the decades that followed, leaders such as William Smith, Stephen Roberts, and Jim Wilson extended that upward timeline. They expanded research centers, increased enrollment and supported national student success. At the same time, they maintained academic quality and strategic focus. Later, Thom Hodgson and others positioned the department for national distinction and philanthropic investment.

When Ed Fitts made his transformative gift, department leadership ensured it reshaped the timeline for scholarships and research. More recently, Julie Swann has added new chapters to the timeline through outreach, inclusion and emerging research areas.

Good leadership connects each moment on a department’s timeline. Because every head built on the work of those before them, the timeline shows steady progress. Ultimately, the strength of NC State ISE reflects leaders who guided its timeline with vision, courage and purpose.