Wilson College of Textiles’ Remarkable Finish To An Extraordinary Campaign

As the only institution in the United States devoted entirely to textiles, the Wilson College of Textiles is uniquely poised to educate new leaders, support the industry and advance research within this expansive field.

During NC State’s five-year Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, the Wilson College of Textiles experienced unprecedented growth. 

With help from 3,216 supporters, the college raised more than $65 million to continue providing life-changing student scholarships, investing in groundbreaking research and forging collaborative partnerships with industry leaders and local entrepreneurs.

The Lifelong Impact of Campaign Success

In this end-of-campaign impact report, you can read how donor support has further transformed the Wilson College of Textiles and continues to empower our students, staff and faculty to continue learning, leading and advancing. 

“We are the preeminent educational institution for textiles in the world,” David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles, says. “Donor support has made that possible.”

Supporters of the college have empowered students to think and do the extraordinary. They’re keeping our armed forces and first responders safe by developing protective fibers, filtering the air we breathe and the water we drink, conducting stem cell research, creating sustainable and inclusive fashion and making their mark on the textile industry in a significant way.

Campaign Highlights for the Wilson College of Textiles

• During the campaign, 172 funds were supported through more than 7,800 gifts and new commitments to the Wilson College of Textiles.
• More than 900 students were awarded scholarships during the campaign, which provided transformational opportunities to learn, grow and innovate.
• A transformative $28 million gift from alumnus Fred Wilson ’61 and the Wilson family named the Wilson College of Textiles in 2018.
• VF Corporation and NC State announced a strategic, multi-year partnership to support student development.
• The Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council, a group of recent graduates who are helping to shape the college as they give back to their alma mater, was established.
• During the campaign, the college’s first need-based scholarship, the Textile Pioneer Scholarship, was created.
• The Textiles Diversity and Inclusion Fund was created to expand targeted diversity and equity programming.
• Two endowed professorships, the Samuel S. Walker Distinguished Professorship in Textile Innovation and the Steve E. and Frosene M. Zeis Distinguished Professorship in Technical Textiles, were established during the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign.

Donor contributions, during the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign and beyond, are a shining example of the strength and passion of the Wilson College of Textiles community.