Local Limelight with Jim Pfaendtner, dean of N.C. State's engineering school
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Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photo: Courtesy of N.C. State University
When Jim Pfaendtner was a high schooler in Michigan, he attended a summer camp at Georgia Tech for engineering.
- There, the head of the school's chemical engineering department gave the visiting students a speech, telling them about how hard the classes would be but also about how ultimately rewarding their careers could turn out.
Why it matters: The speech, or perhaps challenge, won over the competitive young Pfaendtner immediately. It's a moment that set him on course to eventually become dean of N.C. State's College of Engineering, where he has led more than 12,000 students since 2023.
We talked with Pfaendtner for our latest Local Limelight conversation. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
🍻 Favorite place to eat in the Triangle? Our first house was near Transfer Food Hall in Raleigh. My favorite thing to do on a weekend day is to get lunch in Transfer and eat next door with my friends at Burial Taproom.
⚾️ What do you think the Triangle is missing? I grew up in Michigan when the Tigers were having a great run. I would love to see an MLB team here.
📧 What's your first read in the morning? Our daily external affairs update that is distributed to senior leadership. It always has important federal and state news. That or my Axios Raleigh newsletter.
📚 What is the last great book you read? I have always loved big fantasy epic series and I think Brandon Sanderson is one of the great fantasy/sci-fi writers of our time. He just finished a series called The Stormlight Archive that was fantastic.
✈️ Favorite place to go for a long weekend? I have adorable young nieces and nephews in Chicago, San Antonio and Tampa. A great thing about being in the Southeast is that they are all just a weekend trip away.
🎓 How did you end up in the Triangle? It was the opportunity to move from Seattle [where he worked at the University of Washington] to be the next Dean of Engineering at N.C. State.
🏋️ What's something you're looking forward to, unrelated to your work? I love the sport of Olympic weightlifting and just started working with an individual coach. I'm hoping in 2026 or 2027 to try competing.
🥘 How do you unplug at the end of the day? I'm pretty basic and enjoy having a glass of wine and cooking dinner with my wife. She works at UNC-Chapel Hill, so it is always fun to compare notes about our days.
✍️ What advice would you give someone interested in majoring in any form of engineering? Do your homework and carefully study the types of majors you can choose from. Pick an engineering degree that lines up with the type of problems you want to work on in your career.
🌇 What's surprised you the most about Raleigh and the Triangle in your time here so far? I am continually amazed at how warm and friendly everyone is here. People are uncommonly kind, and there is a contagious, shared enthusiasm for how much the Triangle is booming right now.