Former White House press secretary and N.C. State alumnus Robert Gibbs is in talks to join Facebook, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources.

The social networking site is interested in hiring Gibbs for a senior communications role as it prepares for a possible initial public offering in early 2012, the paper reported. Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is often the public face of the company, may be interested in having help communicating his message to the media and investors.

Gibbs, who left the White House in February after two years on the job, had been planning to help establish President Obama’s re-election campaign before taking a private sector job, the Times reported.

Tomorrow will be a year to the day that Barack Obama was elected president of these United States.

With all that has happened since then, it's getting harder to remember the headiness of that time -- whether Democratic or Republican or Independent, you can't dispute the historic nature of the 2008 election.

HBO's "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama" (9 tonight) reminds us not just of election day, but President Obama's journey to his victory. And even if the memories and the emotions linger, you'll still learn something.

N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger authored his second state-of-the-university address today, speaking for more than 30 minutes on topics ranging from the budget crunch to a recently-concluded, $1 billion fundraising campaign.

You can watch the speech here, or read the transcript by clicking on the attachment below.

Among Oblinger's shout-outs, the chancellor recognized notable alums like Robert Gibbs - the new White House Press Secretary - and Cullen Jones, an Olympic swimming gold medalis.

He also noted that the ongoing budget crisis may force NCSU to shave up to $36 million from its budget, a reduction that will may force layoffs.

He also mentioned Kay Yow, NCSU's women's basketball coach who recently succumbed to cancer.

"You know that her presence will be felt at N.C. State for a long time to come," he said, according to the transcript. "While we are sad at her passing, I think I speak for everyone who knew her - or knew of her - when I say the greatest loss is the succession of student athletes and community members who will not get to know Kay Yow. N.C. State remembers."

An N.C. State graduate who played goalie on NCSU's soccer team for three seasons in the early 1990s appears the likely choice to be the official mouthpiece of the Obama administration.

Robert Gibbs, 37, previously worked with North Carolina congressman Bob Etheridge before joining Obama when the president-elect was campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat in Illinois.