Grace Wang Explained

Grace Wang
Order:	17th
President of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Term Start:	April 3, 2023
Predecessor:	Laurie Leshin
Office1:	President of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Status1:	Interim
Term Start1:	July 1, 2018
Term End1:	November 2020
Predecessor1:	Bahgat G. Sammakia (Interim)
Successor1:	Tod A. Laursen (acting)
Education:	Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BS, MS) Northwestern University (PhD)

Jinliu "Grace" Wang (Chinese: 王劲柳) is a Chinese American engineer and academic administrator who serves as the 17th president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Wang also served as interim president of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute from July 1, 2018 to November 2020.^[1]

Education

Wang earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in polymer materials from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, followed by a PhD in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University.^{[2] [3]}

Career

Wang began her career at IBM and Hitachi, focusing on the research and development of magnetic thin film and carbon overcoat for data storage. She holds seven U.S. patents. Wang joined National Science Foundation (NSF) in June 2009 as a program director for the SBIR/STTR Program, focusing on investing in small businesses in the areas of nanotechnology, advanced materials, and manufacturing. She later became the division director of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP), deputy assistant director, and acting assistant director for engineering at the NSF.^[4]

Wang became the vice chancellor for research and economic development at the State University of New York in 2017 and also served as SUNY's interim system provost for the 2017–2018 school year. She also worked as a professor of engineering at the University at Buffalo. Wang was appointed interim president by the board of trustees and SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson in June 2018.^{[5] [6] [7]}

In December 2020, Wang joined Ohio State University as executive vice president for research, innovation, and knowledge enterprise.^[8]

On November 7, 2022, it was announced that Wang would be the 17th president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute starting on April 3, 2023.^[9]

She was ranked 44th on Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women in 2023.^[10]

References

1. News: SUNY Poly looks to SUNY for interim president. 2018-06-14. . Albany . en-US. 2020-04-07.
2. Web site: Wang, Grace. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Buffalo. en. 2020-04-07. 2020-11-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129202341/http://engineering.buffalo.edu/home/research/faculty/women.host.html/content/shared/engineering/materials-design-innovation/profiles/faculty/wang-grace.html. dead.
3. Web site: Alumni Awards Alumni Materials Science & Engineering Northwestern Engineering. McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University . 2020-04-07.
4. News: Worcester Polytechnic Institute names "Grace" Jinliu Wang as its 17th President - Massachusetts News . 19 March 2023 . 7 November 2022.
5. Web site: Grace Wang . SUNY . 2022-01-18.
6. Web site: After months of tumult, a turning point at SUNY Poly. Gronewold. Anna. Politico PRO. en. 2020-04-07.
7. Book: Innovation, Diversity, and the SBIR/STTR Programs: Summary of a Workshop . ((National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)) . The National Academies Press . 2015 . 978-0-309-37355-5 . Dierksheide . David E. . Washington, DC . en . Shivakumar . Sujaj J..
8. Web site: "Grace" Jinliu Wang to serve as new executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge enterprise at Ohio State. 2022-01-17. osu.edu. en-us.
9. Web site: "Grace" Jinliu Wang, PhD, is named as Worcester Polytechnic Institute's 17th President. 2022-11-12. wpi.edu. 7 November 2022 . en-us.
10. Web site: Most Powerful Women . Fortune . en.

External links

• Q&A with Wang