GREENSBORO — Edward B. Fort, the educator and administrator credited with overseeing a period of major expansion at North Carolina A&T State University, has died. He was 94. The university announced Monday that Fort passed away Sunday, Aug. 9.
Long tenure shaped A&T’s modern identity
Fort served as the university's eighth chancellor from Sept. 1, 1981, until June 30, 1999. Even after leaving the chancellor's post he remained deeply involved with the campus, teaching in the Department of Leadership Studies and Adult Education until June 27, 2023, and holding the title of chancellor emeritus.
During his administration, A&T moved to broaden its academic mission and physical footprint. The university launched more than 30 academic programs, and in 1994 secured approval to offer its first doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, a turning point toward sustained research activity.
“Dr. Fort played an invaluable role in the development of North Carolina A&T, laying our essential foundation as a research university and making possible so much of who and what we are today,”
said Chancellor James R. Martin II in a university statement.
Campus growth and investments
Major construction projects and renovations also marked Fort’s years. The university completed more than $50 million in new construction and nearly $30 million in renovations during his administration. Notable projects included McNair Hall and a new F.D. Bluford Library. A research facility established on the former library site was later named the Edward B. Fort Interdisciplinary Research Center in recognition of his influence.
Fort presided over increasing enrollment and pushed to expand A&T’s national and international engagement, helping to reposition the historically Black university as a competitive research institution.
Ongoing presence on campus
Even after stepping down as chancellor, Fort remained a visible figure on campus. University officials noted that he attended commencement ceremonies regularly until mobility issues in recent years made attendance difficult. He kept an office in Bluford Library and continued reading, writing and participating in campus life well into his late 80s.
His formal installation as chancellor took place the year after his appointment, and his formal relationship with the institution spanned 42 years when counting his time as chancellor, chancellor emeritus and faculty member.
Legacy and local impact
Fort’s leadership coincided with an era when many public universities sought to intensify research capacity and diversify advanced degree offerings. For Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad, A&T’s rise under Fort contributed to workforce development, research partnerships and regional economic activity tied to higher education.
Colleagues and university leaders have highlighted Fort’s role in setting institutional priorities that enabled later growth in doctoral programs, research funding and campus facilities.
Timeline of key milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Named A&T chancellor (Sept. 1) |
| 1982 | Formal installation as chancellor |
| 1994 | Approval for first doctoral degrees (mechanical, electrical engineering) |
| 1999 | Stepped down as chancellor (June 30) |
| 2023 | Retired from faculty (June 27) |
| 2026 | Died Aug. 9 at age 94 |
What remains
University leaders point to both physical reminders of Fort’s tenure — buildings and a research center bearing his name — and institutional shifts in academic mission as parts of his legacy. Those changes have shaped A&T’s trajectory into a comprehensive research university and influenced opportunities for students and faculty in Greensboro.
- Duration: 17 years as chancellor; 42 years total association with A&T.
- Academic growth: More than 30 new programs and first doctoral offerings.
- Campus investment: Over $50 million in construction and nearly $30 million in renovations.
Arrangements for memorial services and campus tributes are expected to be announced by the university. As the campus community reflects on his contributions, Fort’s role in reshaping North Carolina A&T’s mission and facilities is likely to remain a central part of his public remembrance.
Latoya Simmons is the WE NEWS state correspondent covering higher education and public affairs in North Carolina.
