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| S. David Wu | |
|---|---|
| Name | S. David Wu |
| Occupation | Academic administrator; mechanical engineer |
| Alma mater | Yale University; University of Pennsylvania |
| Known for | Dean of the Drexel University College of Engineering; President of Baruch College |
S. David Wu is an academic administrator and mechanical engineer notable for leadership roles at several American research universities and colleges. He served as dean of the College of Engineering at Drexel University and later as president of Baruch College of the City University of New York. His career spans research in manufacturing and materials, faculty leadership, and institutional strategy within higher education networks and professional societies.
Wu was born in Taiwan and completed his early schooling there before pursuing advanced degrees in the United States. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University and moved to the United States for graduate study at Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. During his graduate training he worked with faculty who were active in areas associated with manufacturing engineering, materials science, and mechanical systems, and he became involved with professional organizations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Manufacturing Enterprise community.
Wu began his academic career on the faculty at leading research universities, holding appointments that combined teaching, research, and service. He served as a professor in departments that intersected with mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, and applied sciences, collaborating with colleagues at institutions including Princeton University-affiliated centers and regional research consortia. Over time he assumed roles with increasing administrative responsibility, acting as department chair and program director in engineering schools and affiliating with national laboratories and professional societies including the National Science Foundation networks and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers through interdisciplinary projects.
Wu gained prominence as dean of the College of Engineering at Drexel University, where he led strategic initiatives in curriculum reform, research growth, and partnerships with industry such as collaborations with Boeing, Siemens, and regional technology incubators. At Drexel he emphasized cooperative education models similar to those practiced at Northeastern University and partnerships with urban economic development agencies and municipal stakeholders in Philadelphia. Subsequently he was appointed president of Baruch College, part of the City University of New York system, where he oversaw academic programs, fundraising campaigns, student affairs, and campus operations. His presidency engaged with external stakeholders including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, business schools like Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and city-level educational initiatives. Wu has served on boards and advisory councils for organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Council of Graduate Schools, and regional chambers of commerce, and he has contributed to national dialogues with entities like the American Council on Education and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Wu’s scholarly work centers on manufacturing processes, materials behavior, multiscale modeling, and the development of advanced machining and forming techniques. His publications appear in journals associated with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, and other outlets tied to the Materials Research Society and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. His research collaborations have involved partnerships with federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health for biofabrication topics, the Department of Energy for materials processing, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for advanced manufacturing platforms. He has supervised doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to faculty positions at universities such as Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and Purdue University and to industry roles at companies like General Electric and Intel Corporation.
Wu’s recognitions include fellowships, named professorships, and awards from engineering societies and higher-education organizations. He has been honored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and received citations for leadership from regional education consortia and civic institutions. His administrative achievements were acknowledged by associations such as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and by local business groups in New York City and Philadelphia. In his research career he received grants and prizes from agencies including the National Science Foundation and competitive awards tied to manufacturing innovation and materials research.
Wu is married and lives in New York City; he maintains ties to academic and professional communities in Philadelphia, Taipei, and other international centers of engineering scholarship. He participates in community and alumni activities connected to Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, and institutions in Taiwan, and he is active in networks that link higher education, philanthropy, and industry.
Category:American university and college presidents Category:American engineers Category:Taiwanese emigrants to the United States