James L. Oblinger

MS '70, Food Technology
PhD '72, Food Technology
Raleigh, N.C.

Dr. James L. Oblinger (MS ’70, PhD ’72 food technology) turned his passion for education into a career of exceptional leadership at three of the nation’s top public universities. Today, he is chancellor of North Carolina State University, an institution of 30,000 students in 10 colleges, where he also holds the rank of professor of food science.

Dr. Oblinger received his BA in bacteriology from DePauw University in 1967, but his career ever since has been thoroughly “land-grant,” with graduate studies at Iowa State and faculty and administrative appointments at the University of Missouri, Columbia; the University of Florida; and NC State. Before being named chancellor at NC State, he served as associate dean and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Dr. Oblinger’s visionary and dynamic leadership at NC State has resulted in signicant advancements throughout the institution. His initiatives include the expansion of Centennial Campus, an international model of university, business and government partnership engaged in scientific discovery, educational excellence and economic development; and the development of the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, which will address North Carolina’s need for biomanufacturing training and will be the largest facility of its kind in the nation. He is also credited with significant expansion of the university’s interdisciplinary programs in the biological sciences and is leading the institution’s $1 billion Achieve! capital campaign.

He is a renowned scholar in food microbiology and food-borne pathogens in red meats and poultry, and is the author or co-author of three book chapters and more than 50 refereed publications. He and his wife, Dr. Diana G. Oblinger (’74 botany, MS ’76 MS and PhD ’80 agronomy), are co-editors of the book Educating the Net Generation, which examines how student learning has been affected by the Internet. Diana is vice president of EDUCAUSE.

Dr. Oblinger’s passion for teaching is evident in the recognitions he has received, including the Teacher of the Year Award from the University of Florida in 1977, the William V. Cruess National Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1983 and the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award from the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture in 1994.

The Oblingers are annual members of the ISU Alumni Association. They reside in Raleigh, North Carolina and have four sons: Andrew, Chris, Brian and Adam.