The College of Design welcomes Candice Byrd, MPA as the Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration.

As the Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration, Byrd will be responsible for the development and execution of the college’s financial and operational strategies. Her role includes aligning financial strategies with the college’s long-term mission, overseeing fiscal forecasting and budget development to maximize resource use, and managing HR functions while serving as the primary liaison between the college and university-level administrative offices.

“I am honored to join the College of Design and look forward to collaborating with leadership, faculty and staff to advance the college’s mission. My goal is to foster a culture of strategic alignment and operational excellence to ensure we are effectively supporting our designers and researchers,” says Byrd.

Dean Mark Elison Hoversten welcomes Candice to the leadership team. “Her extensive experience in managing complex multi-million dollar portfolios and her proven ability to streamline operational processes uniquely positions her to have an immediate impact on our college’s strategic goals,” he says.

Byrd joins the College of Design from NC State’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), where she served as the director of research & center administration. During her tenure, she oversaw a complex portfolio of awards and orchestrated centralized, automated workflows to improve departmental efficiency. Her career at NC State also includes leadership roles within the ASSIST National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center and the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.

Before her work at NC State, Byrd spent several years at the Duke University School of Medicine, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public School System and Johnson C. Smith University. An NC Certified State Government Budget Professional, Candice holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Management.