In Memoriam: Samuel J. Dunn, 1922-2025

Samuel J. Dunn, professor emeritus at historically Black North Carolina A&T State University, passed away on January 9. He was 102 years old. Dr. Dunn joined the faculty at NCA&T in 1957 as chair of the department of plant science and technology, now known as the department of natural resources and environmental design in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Over the course of his 35-year tenure, he was dedicated to advancing his department’s academic offering. He developed a new master’s degree and laid the groundwork for the HBCU’s agricultural engineering program and landscape architecture program, which remains the country’s only undergraduate program of its kind at an HBCU. In addition to new academic opportunities, Dr. Dunn was instrumental in recruiting new faculty and expanding his department’s research output. His leadership led to the construction of two buildings at NCA&T’s farm for plant breeding, environmental, and water quality studies, as well as two laboratories for soil chemistry and soil microbiology research. Alongside his colleague Godfrey Uzochukwu, he expanded the earth and environmental sciences program for all majors and established the Interdisciplinary Waste Management Institute. Dr. Dunn was a graduate of historically Black Hampton University in Virginia. He received his...