College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences to Graduate First Ph.D. Recipients

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 6, 2025) — The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will celebrate a landmark event this week: awarding its first doctoral degrees in agriculture and environmental sciences to two students.

“We’re proud of this milestone, which shows the commitment the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences has in giving our students a full suite of educational opportunities to ensure their success,” said interim CAES Dean Shirley Hymon-Parker, Ph.D.

“This doctoral program also contributes to our innovative research, which addresses the urgent needs in agriculture and overall health of our world, and allows us to retain and attract the most talented students,” she said.

William Oyom is graduating from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in food science, human nutrition and health, and Arjun Thapa is graduating from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design with a concentration in sustainable agriculture and environmental sciences.

Oyom’s research focused on the use of gel coatings to reduce the unhealthy compounds found in chicken fried in fat.

Thapa’s research focused on the use of cover crops and tall grass strips in commercial agriculture to improve both water quality and quantity in watersheds.

Other Ph.D. concentrations within CAES are agribusiness and applied economics; sustainable animal production and health; and agricultural and extension education.

The college’s Ph.D. program has grown substantially since it began with one student in spring 2022. Ten students enrolled during that first year, and 43 students are enrolled now.

Antoine Alston, Ph.D., CAES associate dean of academic studies, said he’s excited to see the progressive growth in the doctoral program. He was the driving force behind the Ph.D. program and submitted the paperwork in 2017 to the University of North Carolina System seeking to establish it.

“I really feel great to see something that I kept alive coming to fruition that’s really going to produce more future ag leaders and more ag researchers,” he said. “That’s really, really nice.”

N.C. A&T offers 14 doctoral degree programs, 34 master’s degree programs, and 19 graduate certificate programs.

The Graduate College commencement ceremonies will take place Friday, May 9, at 6 p.m. at First Horizon Coliseum at the Greensboro Complex, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd. Parking is free and tickets are not required to attend.