Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in paper and packaging solutions, has made a generous gift to the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University to jump-start a much-needed modernization plan — and, hopefully, to generate support from other companies in the paper industry that want to recruit top-level paper science and engineering students.

“The College of Natural Resources has one of the strongest relationships with industry in the country, and our partnership with Smurfit Westrock is a prime example,” said Dean Myron Floyd. “This generous gift, the latest in a long history of support, reflects Smurfit Westrock’s commitment to our students’ success. We hope others in the industry will look to their example.”

C. Allen Sanders (Paper Science and Engineering ’85), executive director of the College of Natural Resources’ Pulp and Paper Advisory Board, said the improvements that Smurfit Westrock’s gift will make possible are natural next steps in this long-term partnership between the college and company.

“The paper science and engineering program celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, and Smurfit Westrock has been part of the program since the early years,” said Sanders, who is a former Smurfit Westrock employee. “When we developed the program, we also formed a support organization, [now called] the Pulp and Paper Advisory Board, with companies that could help get us going and offer student scholarships. Smurfit was one of those.”

Today, Smurfit Westrock is one of nearly 45 companies that comprise the advisory board, which awards approximately $400,000 in scholarships annually and also helps students participate in the Paper International Experience. The company also hires approximately 10% of the paper science and engineering program’s graduates annually and assists the university, faculty and students.

Even after this legacy of support and, most recently, creating an endowment to support graduate students and increasing their scholarship support for undergraduates, Sanders said Smurfit Westrock “wanted to do something different” this year. He and the advisory board were ready.

Developing a Plan for Strategic Growth

Sanders met with advisory board leaders Bart Nicholson (Pulp and Paper Technology ’81) and Allen Turner (Pulp and Paper Technology ‘91) and a number of College of Natural Resources faculty for strategic planning. 

“The paper science and engineering program has consistently had 100% placement of our graduates and led the university in starting salaries for about 40 years in a row. It’s because we focus on developing students’ skill sets. We’re able to place them in internships and co-op positions so they come out with 10 months of real work experience,” Sanders said. “Nobody has to train them how to work. They’re ready on day one.”

New hires who have the latest skills are more sought after than ever before. According to Hanover Research, “The demand for skill-based learning in higher education is not new, but for students, hiring managers and policymakers in 2025, it’s now an imperative.”

With today’s changing technologies and demand for paper, the industry calls for new and adaptable skills. IndustrySelect reports that the paper products industry is at a crossroads: Digital communication has reduced the need for certain paper products, while sustainable and alternative packaging demands are driving growth.

Meanwhile, the cost of education is increasing, particularly for out-of-state students. As a result, the advisory board has had to increase scholarship amounts. “This is a regional program with a national impact so attracting both in-state and out-of-state students is critical. This summer, our students will intern with companies across 19 states, from Washington to Florida, Texas to Maine,” Sanders added.

“We must modernize to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest students.”

Regardless of where students come from, they expect more amenities and concern for the environment than did the young people who first entered the paper science and engineering program seven decades ago.

“The building that houses the program was built in 1953, so it’s aging. When we’re recruiting, besides tuition costs, we’re also out there competing with engineering programs that are inside modern facilities,” Sanders said. “The last time there was any inflow of capital, real capital, was a building expansion in 1993.”

That expansion allowed for more office and lab space, more classrooms and the relocation of the paper machine. Companies raised half of the $154 million needed for those efforts. Still, original construction was 72 years ago, the expansion was 32 years ago — and competition for budget and donor dollars is keener than ever. 

“We’re a fairly small program inside a huge university, so we vie for dollars with every other program. Every program has to focus first and foremost on being relevant. Our relevancy comes from our strong, loyal graduate base — our alumni are very loyal, very passionate — and from industry demand,” Sanders said. 

He added, “Even as the only school in the South offering this program, we must modernize to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest students.”

Achieving Shared Success Through Collaboration

The strategic plan developed by Sanders and his collaborators would need several million dollars to implement. He shared the plan with Smurfit Westrock, and the company agreed to assist — in part thanks to Elijah Gore and Jan Morgan. 

Gore and Morgan, both graduates of the paper science and engineering program, work at Smurfit Westrock and represent the company on the Pulp and Paper Advisory Board. They play key roles in supporting the college-company relationship and redoubled their energies with the fundraising effort.

“Jan and Elijah were invaluable to our success,” Sanders said. “They were excellent communicators and liaisons between the college and Smurfit Westrock, shepherding the plan through the process from start to finish.”

Chris Cavin, Smurfit Westrock senior vice president, cited the college and company’s successful partnership history as one of the key factors the team considered before ultimately deciding to designate funds.

“Smurfit Westrock has supported and engaged the College of Natural Resources for many years. We are committed to innovation and continuous improvement, and believe NC State students will benefit from updated facilities that inspire them to pursue and achieve their full potential,” Cavin said. 

Thanks to Smurfit Westrock, the first improvements will aim to refresh areas where students study, collaborate, learn to work in teams and relax. Work on a new student patio is already underway. The unrestricted nature of the donation gives the college ample room to address critical needs and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Sanders also wants to improve how corporate donors are recognized onsite. 

“We are very grateful for our partnership with Smurfit Westrock. The improvements to student experiences and facilities they are making possible will help us recruit top talent in students and faculty,” Sanders said. “Our goal is to provide the pulp and paper and allied industries with well-educated future leaders. Partnerships like this are how we achieve this goal.”

Partner With Us

This generous gift by Smurfit Westrock kicks off a multimillion-dollar plan to modernize the capabilities, appeal and offerings of the paper science and engineering program. These efforts will substantially boost our ability to recruit the best and brightest students and faculty to our program — ultimately providing the pulp, paper and packaging manufacturing industry with the employees they need for success in a rapidly changing future. If you’re interested in joining this journey, please contact Allen Sanders at casande7@ncsu.edu.. 

This article was written by Cindy Dashnaw Jackson for the College of Natural Resources.