Rose Hu appointed head of the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The next-generation wireless expert brings nearly 30 years of research experience and will serve as the department’s first female head in its 135-year history.
For Rose Hu, creating a supportive community is personal. She developed a passion for STEM at a young age, thanks to the encouragement of her teachers as far back as elementary school. Now, she’s hoping to build that same level of support as the first female department head of the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering since its inception in 1892.
Hu comes to Virginia Tech from Utah State University, where she served as professor and associate dean for research. Her appointment in the College of Engineering is set to begin on Jan. 1, 2025. She will replace Luke Lester, who has led the department since 2013.
Julie Ross, the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of Engineering, acknowledged Lester for his more than 10 years of service in the department. “Luke’s leadership has helped propel the department forward in both curricular innovation and research in key areas like semiconductor research, wireless, and quantum engineering,” said Ross.
She added “We are thrilled to welcome Rose Hu to the Virginia Tech College of Engineering. Her expertise in next-generation wireless research will help pave the way for the future of the department as we expand into the D.C. area and beyond. I look forward to working with Rose to position the department for success in the years to come.”
Research at the forefront
The electrical and computer engineering department (ECE) has grown to be one of the largest departments in the country and makes up more than 10 percent of the university’s nearly $600 million total in research expenditures. Hu hopes to continue the strong legacy of the department, while bringing new initiatives and priorities for the future.
“Research productivity has been a hallmark strength of ECE,” said Hu. “I am excited to foster a culture of collaboration, encourage interdisciplinary research, and motivate faculty members to work together internally and externally to secure large grants in emerging research areas. This focus on research and our work at the Innovation Campus will allow for more collaborations between academia, industry partners, and government agencies, further driving transformational and translational purpose-driven research.”
More about Hu
The internationally renowned researcher has received several prestigious recognitions and awards, including:
- AAAS fellow, 2024
- IEEE WICE Outstanding Achievement Award, 2023
- Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association fellow, 2021
- IEEE fellow, 2020
Hu has published six books and more than 300 journal articles and conference papers throughout her career. She currently serves as editor-in-chief for IEEE Communications Magazine. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Hu was a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Utah State, and, earlier in career, held various industry and academia positions, actively participating in industry 4G standards, technology development, and system-level simulations. In addition, she has more than 20 patents in her name.
Hu received her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Kansas in 1998, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from New York University in 1995, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Science and Technology China in 1992.
