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Biographies
2009
Dr. Vivian S. Lee
2008 2007
Dr. Sung-Mo "Steve" Kang
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HOME > SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS > TIEN EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Dr. Sung-Mo "Steve" Kang
[Note: The following biography was prepared at the time of the awards ceremony and may not be current.] In many ways, Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang’s career can be understood as a typical American immigrant story of hard-earned successes and the fulfillment of a dream. At the same time, though, Kang’s talents are so markedly uncommon and his accomplishments of such distinction that to say he is a typical immigrant would simply be untrue. Kang is recognized and respected worldwide for his outstanding research contributions. In addition to breaking ground in his field of electrical engineering, Kang has distinguished himself as a highly effective administrator. Few have the energy and dedication to excel as both a scholar and administrator. Through his service as dean of the Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Kang has shown that it is indeed possible. "Steve kindles the spirit of discovery in his students and inspires others with his vision of the future,” wrote Robert Dynes, president of the University of California. “His stellar qualities as a scientist, teacher and leader make this recognition by the Asian Pacific Fund most fitting and well-deserved." Kang brought the Baskin School from infancy to its current standing as a well-regarded graduate school of engineering. Since taking the helm in 2001, he doubled the size of the faculty, recruiting only the highest caliber professors and researchers to the growing school. Federal research funding increased four-fold during Kang’s tenure, from $5 million to $20 million, and the school’s scholarship fund has grown by ten fold. This allows faculty members to pursue new inquiries and gives students the opportunity to develop their talents. Colleagues and students alike praise Kang’s leadership and ability to form creative and productive partnerships. “My first impression was that Steve was a man of tremendous energy and commitment,” said Dr. Martin M. Chemers, former acting chancellor of UC Santa Cruz. “He also turned out to be a person with whom it is easy to cooperate. He always understood that a deal is an arrangement where both parties get something they want.” This ability to create bridges was a great boon for the Baskin School. For example, Kang’s outreach efforts to NASA Ames and Silicon Valley have led to the development of exciting research programs and tremendous new learning opportunities for students. UC professors and students now collaborate more freely with NASA researchers on the most challenging and intriguing research projects in information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology. Kang also forged partnerships further afield with the University of Southern California, Cal Tech and the National Science Foundation, together developing implantable microchips to help restore vision for blind people, for example. He has not only strengthened local ties but worked to raise the international profile of UC Santa Cruz by formalizing exchanges with academic institutions in India, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan. By forming these international relationships with a wide range of universities, Kang helped promote research and broaden the vision of his students. “Universities need to change in order to stay abreast of the rapidly changing world and meet its needs,” said Kang, a firm believer and advocate for diversity and international programs. Born and raised in Korea, Kang recognizes how his Asian background has shaped and strengthened his leadership. He cites, for example, how he values what is good for the group rather than what is good for the individual. Still, he has immense admiration for what he calls “the American way.” “In Asia, we are taught to be quiet, or else it is impolite. As immigrants, we must learn the American cultural way, especially when it comes to innovation,” said Kang. He encourages students to challenge him so that good ideas can emerge. Kang also emphasizes communication skills and seeks to enable his students to clearly express their ideas and vision with others, both inside and outside their fields. Dr. Timothy N. Trick, former acting dean of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, writes that Kang is a demanding but patient mentor. Kang received the Graduate Teaching Technical Field Award in 1996 from IEEE, a professional association of electrical and electronics engineers. Kang’s special touch with graduate students may result from how he himself continues to learn from his own mentors. A believer in lifelong learning, he credits their influence for much of his success and even mentions an elementary school teacher as someone whose guidance has shaped the course of his life. One mentor is Dr. Ernest Kuh, professor emeritus of engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. “I witnessed his superb ability, creativity, and diligence in action,” said Kuh. “With his strength and leadership I encouraged him to pursue higher academic positions, because there are very few Asians serving in top positions at leading universities.” Kang took the advice to heart. Up until that point, he had worked as a professor at various universities in the U.S., Germany and Switzerland, and as a technician and supervisor at AT&T Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. He chose in 1995 to serve as head of the electrical and computer engineering department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and was the first department head of foreign origin in 110 years. He moved to California in 2001 to lead the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz where his energy, intelligence and flexibility served him well. Kang received the Chancellor’s Stellar Service Award in 2003, and has been recognized for his service to his technical society. He was president of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society, founding editor-in-chief of the IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems, and an IEEE distinguished lecturer. He was also president of the Silicon Valley Engineering Council and continues to serve on advisory committees for projects in the U.S. and internationally. Kang graduated summa cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. He stayed on the east coast to earn his masters degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and then came west to earn his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. He is an expert in the field of computer-aided design for electronic circuits and systems. “Steve's continued involvement in research while fostering a new school of engineering through its adolescence has been very impressive,” said Dr. George Blumenthal, acting chancellor of UC Santa Cruz. “It has set the tone for the exceptional research within his school in fields ranging from bioinformatics like the genomics browser, to robotics, to computer gaming theory, to artificial retinas.” Kang’s grandfather wanted him to study electrical engineering. Having fought for Korean independence and experienced Japanese occupation, Kang’s grandfather hoped Kang would immigrate to the U.S. and become a college professor. As a distinguished scholar and a leader in engineering education, Kang has clearly gone beyond this dream. Since being named a recipient of the Chang-Lin Tien Education Leadership Award, Kang has been appointed the chancellor of UC Merced, the newest UC campus. Only time will tell how much further and higher he will go.
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