College of Science Announces New Chemistry Chair
The Department of Chemistry at Illinois Tech will welcome new leadership to begin the 2019–20 academic year, as a new chair has been hired to fill the vacant positions.
Yuanbing Mao will join Illinois Tech’s College of Science as chair of the Department of Chemistry. Mao currently serves as interim chair of the chemistry department at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where he has taught inorganic chemistry, chemistry for engineering, materials science, and food science.
As an associate professor at UTRGV’s School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, Mao has focused his research career on designing advanced nanomaterials, achieving desirable properties and functionalities, and tackling complex interdisciplinary material challenges.
Mao comes to the College of Science with a solid background that includes collaborating with faculty across departments, colleges, and universities to secure funding and develop new programs. Mao worked with four universities in Texas and New Mexico, attracting more Hispanic students to UTRGV through a food science program collaboration.
“I am confident that this outstanding new and continuing department chair can help Illinois Tech advance and help lead our university to enhanced enrollments, higher rankings nationally, and greater flourishing,” says Peter Kilpatrick, Illinois Tech provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
