Chao Lu receives TU Distinguished Faculty Service Award

By Towson University on December 19, 2016

The Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics' Chao Lu is recognized for outstanding achievements throughout 26 years as a member of Towson University’s faculty. His contributions to academic excellence, as well as his distinguished record of scholarly accomplishments, exemplify his commitment to the university and his dedication to advancing knowledge within computer and information sciences. TU has realized tremendous benefits from Professor Lu’s teaching, scholarship and research activities, and his efforts have had a direct positive effect on many undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members.

Professor Lu earned a B.S. in electronics from Shandong University in China, an M.E. in electrical engineering from the City College of New York and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the City University of New York. He joined the Towson University faculty in 1990 as an assistant professor of computer science. He was promoted to associate professor in 1994, and has been a professor since 1998.

Professor Lu was appointed chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences from 1999 to 2007, and again from 2011 to 2016. He adeptly led the department through many arduous circumstances, including numerous successful accreditation visits and program reviews, state budgetary challenges, searches for new faculty, and the creation of three new academic programs. From 2007 to 2010, he served the university as acting dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research and associate vice president for research, and during this time he was highly regarded for his passion, achievements and leadership. He currently serves as director of the Sc.D. in Information Technology program. In addition to formal leadership roles, Professor Lu has also served on numerous university committees.

Professor Lu’s teaching philosophy involves providing students with a supportive, challenging learning environment coupled with real-world problems to motivate their grasp of the material. His passion for teaching and learning is well-respected by faculty and students, and he consistently earns high average scores on both student and colleague evaluations. Professor Lu utilizes grant funding to enable graduate students to work on funded projects, and he compels and assists them to present and publish their work.

Professor Lu has published over 80 book chapters and journal and conference papers, co-authored two books and served as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator for more than 40 grants totaling more than $3.6 million. Additionally, he has chaired five international conferences and has been an invited as keynote speaker for many others.

In 2001, Professor Lu received the U.S. Federal Excellence in Technology Transfer award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium and the Alan Berman Research Publications Award from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. In 2010, the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics recognized his exemplary records of teaching, scholarship and service with its Outstanding Faculty Award.