Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., associate dean and administrator for Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T State University, has earned another accolade in recognition of more than 40 years as an educator and leader in his field.
In November, he received the George Washington Carver Award and was inducted into the George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame at Tuskegee University. The award was presented at the 83rd annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC), held at the Renaissance Hotel and Spa in Montgomery, AL.
Established by Thomas Monroe Campbell, the nation's first Black Cooperative Extension agent, to promote collaboration among agricultural professionals serving Black farmers and rural communities, PAWC is widely recognized as the premier conference for Black agricultural professionals. Launched as a local effort at Tuskegee University, it has grown in size and status over the years and has consistently provided a national platform for Black professionals and all communities in agriculture.
The George Washington Carver Hall of Fame and awards presentation is part of the annual conference and honors individuals whose work reflects Carver’s philosophy of “serving the greatest good to the greatest number of people.” It recognizes exceptional leadership and impact in agricultural outreach, education and rural development.
“This is an honor that goes far beyond recognition,” said McKinnie. “Just to be mentioned or aligned in any way with one of the greatest agricultural scientists of all time is absolutely amazing. I share his beliefs, work ideals and philosophy of ‘being the greatest good to the greatest number.’ This award validates much of what I’ve strived for over the years and tells me I’ve gone about my work in the right way.”
McKinnie, a 1976 A&T graduate with a degree in animal sciences, a master’s from The Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, has Extension experience with A&T dating back to the early 1980s. In the 1990s, he worked as an Extension specialist helping small and limited-income farmers. He returned to North Carolina in January 2023 to take the helm of Cooperative Extension at A&T, having previously served as dean of the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University (VSU) and as administrator for Virginia Cooperative Extension at VSU since 2016.
McKinnie chaired the Extension Commission on Organization and Policy (ECOP), part of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU), in 2010 and the APLU’s Administrative Head Section in 2019. He is a graduate of both the Food Systems Leadership Institute Program and the National Extension Leadership Development Program. As an Extension leader, he has been devoted to hiring talented county and campus-based staff and developing high-quality educational programs that utilize cutting-edge technologies.
“Being inducted into the George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame is a testament to Dr. McKinnie’s lifelong dedication to public service, leadership, and the advancement of the 1890 land-grant university community,” said Alton Thompson, Ph.D., executive research director of the Association of 1890 Research Directors. “This recognition places him among those who truly embody the spirit and service-driven leadership of Dr. George Washington Carver. Dr. McKinnie’s legacy continues to inspire generations of scholars, educators, and Extension professionals.”
PAWC’s George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame Award was created in 1983, and the first award was presented in 1984 to S. J. Parker of the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff. In 1993, a second Hall of Fame award was established to recognize those outside the 1890 land-grant system, in government, and in business. McKinnie joins other distinguished NC A&T faculty inducted into Hall of Fame, notably Sidney Evans, Ph.D., (1986), Burleigh Webb, Ph.D., (1992), Daniel D. Godfrey, Ph.D., (2004), and Alton Thompson, Ph.D. (2020).
