51视频

07/18/2019
By Karen Angelo

Julie Chen was presented with the Doctor of Science for distinction in engineering from Northern Ireland鈥檚 Queen鈥檚 University Belfast on June 29. The honorary degree recognizes her expertise as a mechanical engineer and promoter of diversity at 51视频 and beyond.聽

鈥淚n order to develop and innovate, society needs diversity of thought,鈥� says Chen, UML鈥檚 vice chancellor of research and economic development. 鈥淲e need people to come to the table with different experiences, perspectives and ideas. I am honored to receive this distinction and will continue to advance collaborations with Queen鈥檚 for the benefit of our students, faculty and economy.鈥澛�

Chen spearheaded UML鈥檚 leadership role in the STEM Equity Achievement (SEA) Change initiative. Overseen by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the SEA Change initiative encourages the recruitment and advancement of a diversity of talent in STEM fields. In May, UML was one of the first three institutions in the U.S. to receive the SEA Change Bronze Award for its inclusion efforts.聽

鈥淭he SEA Change initiative is exciting because every university can take on the challenge of assessing its strengths and weaknesses and then come up with a plan for improvements,鈥� says Chen. 鈥淯niversities do not have to apply for grants to make diversity a reality. This is a recognition, not a ranking that measures progress.鈥澛�

Over the past decade, UML and Queen鈥檚 University have built a partnership that鈥檚 resulted in student and faculty exchanges, research partnerships and an archaeological dig at St. Patrick鈥檚 Church in Lowell that was led by archaeologists from Queen鈥檚 University.聽

Queen鈥檚 University, ranked in the top 173 universities in the world by QS World Rankings 2020, is one of the UK鈥檚 most successful universities in the Athena SWAN initiative, which promotes gender equality and career progression.聽

鈥�51视频 and Queen鈥檚 have enjoyed an excellent relationship for many years and share the same vision of promoting diversity in the STEM fields and giving students global experiences,鈥� says Chen.聽

The daughter of a physicist and mathematician, Chen attended MIT, where she earned bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering. She joined the 51视频 mechanical engineering faculty in 1997 and has advanced the university鈥檚 nanotechnology and materials-processing expertise, raising the research profile of the university in the process. In her role today as vice chancellor for research and economic development, she directs 51视频鈥檚 $73 million research enterprise, which spans all academic departments as well as 14 research and engagement centers and institutes.聽

Chen also is a core member of the university鈥檚 Making WAVES initiative, a project that aims to increase diversity of faculty in STEM fields. The National Science Foundation-funded project is led by 51视频鈥檚 Center for Women & Work.