A&T Names University Pavilion Conference Room for Bell '48

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2024) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has named the conference room at the N.C. A&T University Farm Pavilion within the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) in memory of beloved longtime faculty member Arthur P. Bell ‘48, Ed.D.

Bell, an accomplished educator and community advocate, dedicated more than 68 years of his life to advancing agriculture and education. He died Oct. 13, 2024, at 96.

“Today, our students are policymakers, scientists, community leaders, and advocates. We know these achievements are possible because of the foundation laid by pioneers like A.P. Bell,” said  Shirley Hymon-Parker, Ph.D., interim CAES dean. “From the time he joined the faculty in 1957 until his retirement in 1994 as professor emeritus and chair of the Department of Agricultural Education, Dr. Bell was a visionary educator and respected advisor.

“As an agricultural educator, he understood the importance of teaching his students how to grow healthy food, make it available to underserved populations, and encourage health and wellness. His work is even more important now, when so many students have minimal exposure to agriculture and nutrition principles. We know he would care about each one of them.”

Bell’s impact extended far beyond the classroom. His legacy reflects a steadfast commitment to service, innovation and leadership in both agriculture and education.

A native of Reidsville Township in Rockingham County, North Carolina, Bell earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in agriculture from A&T, followed by a master’s degree and Ed.D. in agricultural education from Pennsylvania State University. He served in numerous educational roles, including positions within the Cleveland County and Rowan County public school systems in North Carolina and at A&T.

Bell was a committed leader in the Department of Agricultural Education at A&T, which became known for its diverse degree concentrations during his tenure. Through his work, the department joined the Alpha Tau Alpha National Professional Fraternity, facilitated the merger of the New Farmers of America (NFA) into the National FFA Organization (formerly Future Farmers of America), advised several student groups and organized many agricultural education conferences. Notable initiatives included the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Vocational Education Graduate Leadership Development Program at A&T and the Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders (IFAL).

Bell’s dedication to preserving the legacy of the NFA and A&T’s contributions to agricultural education led him to establish an archive in Carver Hall. He played a key role in advising programs, studies and initiatives aimed at increasing funding for agricultural programs at historically Black colleges and universities and advancing the training of African American agriculture teachers and vocational educators at both the secondary and post-secondary levels.

“Dr. Bell never worked in a climate-controlled room, but he preserved more than a century of Black agricultural data,” F.D. Bluford Library archivist James Stewart said of A&T’s Bell Historical Collection and extensive NFA archive. “He felt it was a moral responsibility to keep this history alive.”

Bell also was an accomplished educator, published author and agricultural advocate who has made significant strides in advancing agricultural education. He fostered educational opportunities, promoted agricultural programs and dedicated his life to educating the community on the importance of agriculture.

Antoine Alston ’96 ‘98, Ph.D., associate CAES dean for academics, is a former student of Bell’s who collaborated with him for the book, “The History of the New Farmers of America.”

“Dr. Bell is a pioneer, a legend,” said Alston. “He represented, to me, what it means to be an African American scholar and man. He passed the torch on to me, and I’m going to make sure the torch stays lit.”