Cooperative Extension Leader McKinnie Named Outstanding NCSU Alumnus

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2025) — M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., associate dean and administrator of Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has received the 2025 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Outstanding Alumni Award from North Carolina State University.

The CALS award “represents the fulfillment of the promise of the land-grant mission in academics, research and Extension.” McKinnie is the award winner for the Department of Animal Science.

McKinnie earned his Ph.D. in animal science from NCSU in 1987, having earned his master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 1978 and his bachelor’s degree from N.C. A&T In 1976, both in animal science.

“I’m a fortunate person. I went to three of the greatest land-grant universities in the country,” said McKinnie. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be recognized by your alma mater. It signifies that hard work and dedication to excellence has paid off, that they recognize the work achievements and accomplishments that you’ve made in your career.”

McKinnie’s career began as an assistant agricultural Extension agent based in his home county, Wayne County, North Carolina, where he worked with W.G. Simmons, “one of the best livestock agents in the state,” McKinnie said. After 11 months, he moved back to A&T in 1980 to reboot Extension’s livestock program.

After returning to NCSU to finish his Ph.D., McKinnie came back to A&T as an Extension animal science specialist and agricultural researcher, a position he held In various forms until 1999, when he transitioned into administration and remained until 2015. He moved in 2015 to Virginia State University, where he served as dean and Extension administrator of its College of Agriculture for seven years.

McKinnie returned to A&T to lead the Extension program in 2023.

The connections he formed at both universities facilitated smooth working relationships in carrying out their shared missions of teaching, research and outreach, McKinnie said.

“They knew me, I knew them, and so anything I ever asked of them in terms of collaboration and involvement, they were willing to consider,” he said.

One of the first collaborations McKinnie initiated was a bull loan program for the University Farm’s herd, which continues today.

McKinnie was also instrumental in establishing the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) at Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro, North Carolina, a joint A&T and NCSU research and teaching farm; establishing the outdoor swine program at A&T; and overseeing the construction of many of the University farm’s buildings, including the beef barn, poultry unit, dairy unit, on-farm Extension building, small ruminants building, and farm equipment sheds. He supervised various aspects of the college’s facilities program from 1988 to 2015.

McKinnie’s professional service includes chairing the National Extension Leadership Development Advisory Committee, National Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, and chairing the Administrative Heads Section of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Board of Agricultural Assembly.

“Find passion in your work and strive every day for excellence,” he said. “Excellence is intentional, not accidental, but if you have the right mix of passion and excellence, the world can be your oyster.”