Chancellor Gallagher presents Associate Dean Minking Chyu with Distinguished Service Professor medallion and appointment

PITTSBURGH (December 13, 2017) … University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Provost Patricia Beeson this morning formally presented the Swanson School of Engineering's Minking Chyu with a medallion recognizing his appointment as Distinguished Service Professor. The presentation was held during a virtual Joint Management Committee meeting between representatives at Pitt and Sichuan University.

"It is our custom in the academy to present a medallion to those who are propelling their disciplines forward, and have made exceptional scholarly contributions in their field," Chancellor Gallagher said at the ceremony. "With his remarkable achievements, it is easy to see why Minking’s colleagues and peers have recommended him for this appointment. This is the highest recognition that our University can bestow upon a faculty member, and I am proud to celebrate Minking as one of these exceptional scholars."

Dr. Chyu is currently the Leighton and Mary Orr Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Associate Dean of International Initiatives, and the inaugural Dean of the Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI) in China. After officially opening its doors in fall 2015, SCUPI has already grown freshman enrollment from 100 to 160 students this past year. There are currently 22 faculty and staff members and a new 300,000 square-foot building is currently under construction.

Dr. Chyu received his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. Before joining the University of Pittsburgh in 2000, he was a faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University for 13 years. His primary research interests are in thermal and material issues relating to energy, power, and aero propulsion systems. Dr. Chyu is a recipient of four NASA Certificates of Recognition for his contributions on the US space shuttle main engineer program. He has served as an Air Force Summer Research Fellow, Department of Energy Oak Ridge Research Fellow, and DOE Advanced-Turbine-System Faculty Fellow. 

He is also a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aerospace and Aeronautics (AIAA), and a member of the Scientific Council of the International Center of Heat and Mass Transfer (ISHMT). Dr. Chyu has published more than 300 technical papers in archived journals, books, and conference proceedings. 

Above: Chancellor Gallagher presents Dr. Chyu with the Distinguished Service Professor Medallion

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