Professor Steve Tung, Twenty-First Century Leadership Chair in Engineering, has been named head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering after serving as interim for the past year.

He joined the College of Engineering as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in 2000 and has been promoted twice, achieving the rank of professor in 2012. He also served as associate department head, where he was responsible for undergraduate and graduate curriculum, as well as course scheduling. 

During that tenure, Tung led the creation of an aerospace concentration and the establishment of an accelerated master's program to encourage high-achieving undergraduate students to apply for mechanical engineering's graduate degree program.

Tung praised his predecessor, Department Head Darin Nutter, for the department's strong foundation and thanked Nutter, who remains on faculty, for his leadership and dedication.

"I am truly honored to be named the next department head of mechanical engineering," Tung said. "Our department is so fortunate to have dedicated faculty, talented students, committed staff and supportive alumni. Going forward, I will work with them closely to foster a culture of excellence and push the boundaries of education, innovation and community service."

Tung is an American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow and has received multiple teaching awards, including the American Society for Engineering Educators' Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston, Jr. Outstanding Mechanics Educator award. He is also a member and leader in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and served as program chair of multiple IEEE nanotechnology conferences, including being the general chair of 2017 IEEE-Nano/Micro Engineered Molecular Systems conference.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University and holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston.

Dean Kim Needy said she was delighted to appoint Tung as the head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. 

"During this past year in his interim role, he has demonstrated a true passion for the role; dedication to the faculty, staff and students; and a desire to move the department forward," she said. "I predict great things to come!"