New Faculty Adds to NC State’s Nonwovens Reputation

A Wilson College of Textiles alumnus with a wealth of experience in the nonwovens industry is the newest addition to the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) faculty and The Nonwovens Institute (NWI).

Raoul Farer joins TECS and NWI following a 24-year career with Freudenberg Performance Materials with various assignments in Germany, Spain and the United States. However, he has been involved with NWI from the time he was a graduate student at NC State, having led research projects with NWI’s predecessor organization, the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC), while earning his Master of Science in textile management and technology (1996) and a Ph.D. in fiber and polymer science (1999).

“Returning to my alma mater and NWI is a dream come true,” Farer says. “After a long career in industry at one of the world’s leading nonwovens manufacturers, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to give back to the students, NWI, the Wilson College of Textiles and NC State. Nonwovens have been my passion from the moment when I first took an introductory course as an undergraduate student. I feel very fortunate to be able to join the teams at NWI and TECS and look forward to helping our students learn and grow in their journeys toward becoming future researchers and innovators and to further strengthen our industry partnerships to help build the NWI of the future.”

Throughout his career, Farer has led and championed investments in new equipment and upgrades in technology to improve the uniformity of nonwovens, optimize and modernize technologies to help reduce energy consumption, and allow for increased usage of recycled materials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Farer and Freudenberg partnered with NWI and NC State to build a full-scale FDA-approved face mask production facility in Durham, North Carolina.

Farer has also served on NWI’s Industrial Advisory Board (IAB), most recently as chair of its Executive Committee (2022-2024), and has sponsored several students working through NWI’s fundamental nonwovens research program. 

“Raoul brings immense value as a leader and faculty member with extensive industry experience,” Dean David Hinks, Ph.D., says. “I look forward to the new insights and innovation he will bring to NWI, to our students, and across NC State. We are eager to welcome him back as a two-time alumnus with a deep knowledge of both the Wilson College and the NWI. I’m excited to see the transformation of student lives his new role will enable.”

In addition to his role at the Wilson College, Farer will also join NWI as executive deputy director. In this position on NWI’s leadership team, he will work closely with Executive Director Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., and Deputy Director Tom Daugherty to manage the implementation of NWI’s strategic vision.

“Having worked with Raoul from the time he was a student researcher at NC State and watching him progress in his career with Freudenberg Performance Materials, I am thrilled to have him join us here at NWI,” Pourdeyhimi says. “I look forward to working with Raoul once again and seeing NWI continue to grow with the benefit of his contributions.”