Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

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MAE Virtual Commencement
December 4, 2020 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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NC State Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering will celebrate the class of 2020 during a special virtual event on Friday, December 4, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. EST to honor the graduates of spring, summer, and fall 2020.
What to Expect
- An Address to the Graduates from a Notable Wolfpack Alumna, Dr. Antonia Arnold-McFarland
- Student Commencement Speakers | Ms. Lila Crick and Dr. Stefan Atay
- Remarks and Congratulations from Department Head, Dr. Srinath Ekkad
- Conferring of degrees with Dr. Kara Peters and Mrs. Cheryl Tran
I want to:
- JOIN (STUDENTS ONLY) the MAE Commencement Zoom webinar
- Meeting ID: 988 3392 2338
Passcode: 886421
- Meeting ID: 988 3392 2338
- LINK FOR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND OTHER ATTENDEES: https://youtu.be/0TxHs9BjmKQ
- Download the commencement program
- Download the MAE presentation
- Add an MAE virtual background
An Address to the Graduates from a Notable Wolfpack Alumna

Dr. Antonia Arnold-McFarland is a multi-facetted community advocate who enjoys inspiring hope and positive change in others via her involvement in the community. She works full-time as a technical professional who manages and leads quality engineering projects, programs and process improvements. She also enjoys coaching others on career development, project management and problem-solving methods. In her spare time “Toni” or “Dr. Toni” as she is known, applies these same skills as she serves the community in various capacities. Her Christian faith is the foundation that enables her to have hope and vision to help and lead others.
Toni is originally from Spartanburg, SC where she was raised by educators, along with her two siblings. She received a B.S in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in African American Studies (1996) from N. C. State University, Raleigh, NC while already working full time as a manufacturing engineer. As a mid-career professional, she earned an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix Raleigh Campus (2007). Her engineering experience, project work and successful exam performance earned her the Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (American Society for Quality, 2008). This is a certification in quality that applies statistical problem-solving methods to minimize defects and achieve process control. She combined her passion and profession together when she received her Doctor of Ministry in Creative Arts from the Graduate Theological Foundation of Mishawaka, IN (2016). Her doctoral research concentrated on the African American Worship Experience. It leveraged quantitative and qualitative research methods for problem-solving and improvement in music and arts ministry in the Black Church.
Toni has worked full time for Deere and Company since 1998. She recently took on an exciting new assignment as an Analytics Lead in Quality Engineering. This team is a part of Factory Engineering at John Deere Turf Care located in Fuquay-Varina, NC. In addition, she is also a recent author, lecturer and scholar in music and arts of the African American Worship Experience. She leverages this research along with her academic studies, cultural undergirding in African American History and lived experiences to bring diverse and inclusive perspectives to her corporate and community involvement. Her belief is that diversity should matter to everyone. Society cannot afford to exclude any human potential that might bring life-changing solutions to the complex problems of today’s world.
Read more about Dr. Arnold-McFarland