Sue Nokes, professor in the UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and associate dean for faculty affairs and facilities received the honor of 2019 Outstanding Alumnus for the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University. She completed her Ph.D. there in 1990.  

Each year, an outstanding alumnus or alumna is selected from each department, and recipients are treated to an awards banquet and an N.C. State home football game. 

Nokes served as chair of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from 2011-2017. She has received several teaching awards, including ASABE’s A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award in 2000 and the Provost’s teaching award in 2012. Nokes has published over 60 peer reviewed articles and four book chapters and has received over $10 million in grant awards from sources including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and industrial support. Her research involves microbial bioprocessing and mathematical modeling of the microbial conversion of biomass into chemicals and fuels.

Nokes is a 31-year member of ASABE, the national professional society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers, and is currently serving as its president for the 2019-2020 term. She was named an ASABE Fellow in 2016.