PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

(July 31, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Dr. Gregory D. Goins, securing the role as Dean for the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T).

Dr. Gregory D. Goins is the current Associate Dean for Agricultural Research at N.C. A&T and will begin his new role as Dean on August 17^th.  He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in crop physiology from North Carolina State University. Dr. Goins spent eight years as a scientist at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and pioneered controlled-environment agricultural research, earning awards. He served as NSF program director and strengthened STEM education as well as served on USDA committees that support producer success.  In 2015, the White House designated Dr. Goins as a Champion of Change for contributions to biomathematics. In 2024, he helped secure an NSF Regional Innovation Engine initiative designed to establish a 42-county Agricultural Technology Innovation Corridor across North Carolina. As CAES Associate Dean, Goins has provided strategic oversight of the college’s research enterprise while advancing faculty success, graduate education, infrastructure development and external partnerships.  As Dean, Dr. Goins will oversee the annual budget, further research and lead a complex organization that includes associate and assistant deans, department chairs, and dedicated advancement and administrative support. and lead a complex organization that includes associate and assistant deans, department chairs, and dedicated advancement and administrative support.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) is a top-flight doctoral research institution and the nation’s largest historically Black university. An 1890 land-grant university within the University of North Carolina System, N.C. A&T is nationally recognized for excellence in STEM education, research, and inclusive student success. With an enrollment of more than 15,000 students, the University offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs and serves as one of North Carolina’s leading public research engines.

N.C. A&T is in an exciting period of growth and transformation, guided by its strategic plan, Preeminence 2030: North Carolina A&T Blueprint, and supported by a rapidly expanding research enterprise that generates $147 million annually in sponsored research funding and programs. The University’s impact is profound, contributing more than $2.4 billion annually to the North Carolina economy and advancing innovation and opportunity across the state and beyond.

Affordable Excellence 

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability.

Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.