William Oyom, left, and Arjun Thapa are the first two students graduating from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences with a Ph.D.


William Oyom admits he was a bit skeptical when he enrolled in the first doctorate program offered in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. 

Because it was so new, Oyom worried that the structure might not be fully developed and that the business community might not accept the legitimacy of the program.  

“I didn’t know that (the CAES) was going to be stronger than I thought,” Oyom said. “Things moved very, very smooth for me.” 

So smooth that he was already working in research and development at Tyson Foods at the time he graduated in May as one of the college’s first two doctoral graduates with a degree in agriculture and environmental sciences.  

Oyom, 32, graduated from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in food science, human nutrition and health. 

He credits the department, the college, and the support and encouragement he received – especially from Principal Investigator, Reza Tahergorabi, Ph.D., associate professor in the department.  

“He helped me to accomplish my dreams,” said Oyom, whose research focused on the use of gel coatings to reduce the unhealthy compounds found in chicken fried in fat. 

Arjun Thapa, 40, also received a Ph.D. in May, from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design with a concentration in sustainable agriculture and environmental sciences. 

Thapa, a U.S. Army veteran who worked as a civil engineer in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, said he initially was unfamiliar with N.C. A&T’s program. However, he wanted to work with Niroj Aryal, Ph.D., associate professor and chairman of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design.  

Thapa praised the department and said that the university is better because of the program. “It’s going to be doing well in the future,” said Thapa, whose research focused on the use of cover crops and tall grass strips in commercial agriculture to improve both water quality and quantity in watersheds.  

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

Antoine Alston, Ph.D., the college’s associate dean of academic studies, said he’s excited to see the progressive growth in the doctoral program. Alston 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.”  

“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 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. 

Other Ph.D. concentrations within the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences include agribusiness and applied economics; sustainable animal production and health; and agricultural and extension education.  

The University offers 14 Doctoral Degree programs, 34 Master’s Degree programs, and 19 Graduate Certificate programs.