With historical strengths in engineering and textiles, it is perhaps most widely recognized as one of the three anchors of North Carolina's Research Triangle, together with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is also the largest university in the University of North Carolina System.
Athletic teams are called the Wolfpack. North Carolina State participates in the NCAA Division I-A and in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Architecturally, NCSU is known for its distinctive red brick buildings and the "belltower." Due to oversupply, odd brick statues dot the landscape, a large section of campus is paved over with brick (University Plaza, a.k.a. "the brickyard"), and most sidewalks are also made with brick.
Famous alumni include: U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards; Gen. Hugh Shelton, former chairman of the U.S. Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The current chancellor of NCSU is Marye Anne Fox, the institution's first female chief executive.Leadership