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Grace Wang (academic administrator)

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For other people named or called Grace Wang, see Grace Wang.
Grace Wang
王劲柳
Wang in 2024
Academic background
Education
Academic work
Discipline
Institutions
17th President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 2023
Preceded byWinston "Wole" Soboyejo (interim)

Jinliu "Grace" Wang (Chinese: 王劲柳) is a Chinese-American materials scientist and academic administrator who has served since 2023 as President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Prior to her time as the president of WPI, Wang was an academic within the State University of New York system and the Ohio State University.

Early life and education

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In her childhood, Wang was fascinated by the periodic table of elements.[1] She earned a BS and MS degree in polymer materials from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology in China, followed by a PhD in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University.[2] Her doctorate was awarded in 2001.[3]

Career

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Before her career in academia, Wang worked for IBM and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies developing thin-film magnetic recording media and carbon overcoat for data storage. She joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2009 as a program director and received successive promotions, ending her stint there as Acting Assistant Director for Engineering. At the NSF, she managed an engineering and technology funding portfolio of roughly 900 million dollars,[4][5] and promoted the creation of pipelines for disadvantaged or underrepresented individuals to participate in science and engineering occupations.[6]

Wang was appointed Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development within the State University of New York (SUNY), starting in January 2017.[4] In September 2017, she was named the university system's interim provost, a role which she held alongside her vice chancellorship for one academic year.[7] Effective July 2018, Wang became the interim president of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute.[8] She succeeded Bahgat Sammakia as the interim president, who himself was the successor to president Alain Kaloyeros.[9][10] During her time in the SUNY system, Wang also taught as a professor in the Department of Materials Design and Innovation at the University at Buffalo.[11] She served in her SUNY roles until 2020.[12] Tod Laursen succeeded Wang as SUNY Poly's interim president.[13]

In 2020, Wang joined the Ohio State University as the executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge enterprise,[14] a role in which she administered research infrastructure and the university's strategic plan for research.[15] Her departure from Ohio State was announced in November 2022.[16][17]

On November 7, 2022, it was announced that Wang would be the 17th president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, starting her tenure in April 2023.[18] She succeeds president Laurie Leshin and interim Winston "Wole" Soboyejo, and is the first person of color to serve as the university's non-interim president.[19][20] Wang was ceremonially inaugurated as president by the university on March 22, 2024;[21] Terrence Sejnowski delivered the inauguration's keynote address.[22][23]

Initiatives take under Wang's leadership at WPI include allowing College of the Holy Cross students to earn master's degrees through a dedicated program, as well as establishing the first PhD program in financial technology within the United States.[24]

Since 2023, Wang has served on the board of directors for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST; the organization behind the FIRST Robotics Competition).[25] Since at least 2023,[25] Wang has been a member of the Government–University–Industry–Philanthropy Research Roundtable at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.[26] She has also served as a board member of the New York Academy of Sciences since 2024.[27] The National Academy of Inventors elected Wang to their 2024 class of academy fellows.[28]

Personal life

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In a 2023 interview, Wang shared that she enjoys reading about science and technology as well as British literature and American presidential history.[29]

References

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  1. ^ Demeglio, Monica Torline (June 3, 2021). "For Grace Wang, the world can be excitingly simple". Ohio State Alumni Magazine. Ohio State University. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Dunlop, Kiernan (November 7, 2022). "Worcester Polytechnic Institute names 'Grace' Jinliu Wang as its 17th president". MassLive. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "Alumni: Previous Alumni Awardees". Materials Science & Engineering. Northwestern Engineering. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Zimpher, Nancy L. (November 3, 2016). "Appointment of Dr. Grace Wang as Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development". Board of Trustees (Webcast archive). State University of New York. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Wamback, Colleen B. (November 7, 2022). ""Grace" Jinliu Wang, PhD, is named as Worcester Polytechnic Institute's 17th President". WPI Today. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  6. ^ Shivakumar, Sujai J.; Dierksheide, David E. (eds.). "SBIR/STTR and Support for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Scientists and Engineers". Innovation, Diversity, and the SBIR/STTR Programs: Summary of a Workshop. National Academies Press. pp. 29–34. doi:10.17226/21738. ISBN 978-0-309-37352-4.
  7. ^ "Grace Wang". New York Academy of Sciences. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  8. ^ Johnson, Kristina M. (June 14, 2018). "Appointment of Dr. Jinliu "Grace" Wang as Interim President of the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute" (PDF). Board of Trustees (Webcast archive). State University of New York. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  9. ^ Gronewold, Anna (July 2, 2018). "After months of tumult, a turning point at SUNY Poly". POLITICO. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Rulison, Larry (June 14, 2018). "SUNY Poly looks to SUNY for interim president". Times Union. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  11. ^ "Grace Wang, PhD". Materials Design and Innovation. University at Buffalo. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Liapis, Holly (October 30, 2020). "Chancellor Malatras Statement on the Departure of Dr. Grace Wang as Interim President of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development". State University of New York. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  13. ^ Roth, Amy Neff (September 14, 2023). "SUNY appoints first SUNY Poly president since Kaloyeros stepped down 7 years ago". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  14. ^ ""Grace" Jinliu Wang to serve as new executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge enterprise at Ohio State". Ohio State News. Ohio State University. October 30, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  15. ^ Gengler-Nowak, Karla (December 8, 2022). "Research Administration for Departmental Staff: Conversations with Research Administration Leaders – Grace Wang and Peter Mohler". Office for Research and Graduate Education. Ohio State University. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  16. ^ "Ohio State executive vice president of research, innovation and knowledge named president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute". Ohio State News. Ohio State University. November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  17. ^ Hendrix, Sheridan (November 7, 2022). "Ohio State VP Grace Wang leaves to become president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  18. ^ Fitzgerald, Bill (November 7, 2022). "Welcoming our 17th President, Grace Wang, to WPI". WPI Today. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  19. ^ Quinn-Szcesuil, Julia (February 1, 2023). "Grace Wang Named 17th President of WPI". WPI Journal. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  20. ^ Doyle, Timothy (November 28, 2022). "The next president: Grace Wang has spent a career focused on innovation, academics, and impact". Worcester Business Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  21. ^ Lam, Adam (March 19, 2024). "Grace Wang to Be Inaugurated as 17th WPI President". Tech News (16): 1.
  22. ^ "The Inauguration of President Grace J. Wang, PhD: Announcing the Keynote Speaker and Presidential Medalists". WPI Today. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. February 22, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  23. ^ "The Inauguration of Grace J. Wang, PhD" (PDF) (Program). Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  24. ^ Campbell, Nancy (April 29, 2024). "2024 Power 100: Grace Wang". Worcester Business Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  25. ^ a b "FIRST Welcomes Grace Wang to Board of Directors". For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. August 30, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  26. ^ "About the Government-University-Industry-Philanthropy Research Roundtable". National Academies. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  27. ^ Fetty, Nick (February 9, 2024). "Q&A with Academy Board Member Grace Wang". New York Academy of Sciences. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  28. ^ Cain, Jon (December 10, 2024). "President Grace J. Wang Receives Prestigious National Honor for Inventors". WPI Today. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  29. ^ Kristen, O'Reilly (March 30, 2023). "Q&A: Get to Know President Grace Wang". WPI Journal. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
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Academic offices
Preceded by 17th President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
April 2023 – present 		Incumbent
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