Hongtao-Yulrg
Hongtao Yu, a faculty member and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology at Jackson State, has been appointed the dean of the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences at Morgan State University.
Morgan State University President David Wilson announced the appointment of Hongtao Yu as dean of the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences Tuesday, July 26. Dr. Yu's appointment is effective August 25, 2016.
Morgan's School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (SCMNS) serves as home for five of the university's academic departments -Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science- and offers a variety of academic programs within these disciplines.
SCMNS also offers students eight undergraduate programs, five graduate programs, four research programs; three research centers; and two all-encompassing student support programs. SCMNS also houses two professional programs that fully equip students for careers in medical technology and actuarial science.
As faculty member and chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Jackson State, Dr. Yu has been ranked among the top 50 chemistry departments in the nation, a distinction achieved by no other HBCU in the nation.
He has been recognized for his vision and dedication towards recruiting, developing relationships with high schools and other colleges, developing faculty and student mentorship programs, and for assisting students in the pursuit of advanced degrees. Outside of his university responsibilities, he also served as president of the Mississippi Academy of Science.
"I am pleased to welcome Dr. Yu to the administrative team at Morgan," said President Wilson. "This is a critical time for minorities in the STEM fields in America and Morgan is playing an important role in helping to educate a diverse group of future scientists. We believe Dr. Yu comes to us well-prepared to provide the kind of leadership that will drive Morgan's School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences to have an even greater impact on the production of minority scientists and mathematicians."
Among Dr. Yu's numerous awards and honors is the 2011 Stanley C. Israel (Southeast) Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences, the HBCU Pioneer Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), the Mississippi State Legislature HEADWAE Outstanding Faculty Honoree Award, and the National ChemLuminary Award for "Best Activity with Underrepresented Minority Students and/or Organizations" from the American Chemical Society.
Dr. Yu received his baccalaureate degree from the Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China (1982); his master's degree from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1986); and, his doctorate (Ph.D.) from the Institute for Organic and Biochemistry, Technical University of Munich, Germany (1990).