Tsu-Jae King Liu named president of the National Academy of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tsu-Jae King Liu as its next president. A trailblazing researcher, innovator, educator and academic leader, Dr. Liu will begin her six-year term on July 1, 2025.

Liu currently serves as the dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is also the Roy W. Carlson Professor of Engineering. With a remarkable career spanning academia, industry and research, she is internationally recognized for her pioneering contributions to semiconductor technology — most notably as co-inventor of FinFET, the revolutionary transistor design that powers the microprocessors in nearly every modern smartphone and computer today.

Liu holds close to 100 patents and has co-authored over 500 research papers that have helped to advance computing and memory technology, shaping the future of electronics and information technology. Her visionary leadership and dedication to excellence have earned her membership in both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors, among many other honors.

“Tsu-Jae brings to the NAE an unmatched blend of technical brilliance, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers,” said current NAE president, John L. Anderson. “She is also a catalyst for progress at the intersection between engineering and society.”

Born in Ithaca, New York and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Liu’s passion for engineering was sparked early during a visit to the Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) campus when she was a teenager. She went on to earn her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University, and she worked at Xerox PARC for several years before joining the UC Berkeley faculty in 1996.

As president, Liu aims to foster and build collaborative relationships and partnerships to advance the mission of the NAE. Her appointment reflects the Academy’s commitment to promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering.

“I am honored and excited to serve as the next president of the NAE,” said Dr. Liu. “More than ever, the U.S. needs knowledgeable and highly skilled technical professionals, innovators and leaders to ensure the long-term welfare and prosperity of our nation. I look forward to seeing all that our engineering community will accomplish together to expand opportunities and drive innovations for the benefit of society.”

See related:

• Dean Tsu-Jae King Liu nominated for NAE presidency (Sept. 25, 2024)
• Mark Asta to serve as interim dean of Berkeley Engineering (Dec. 11, 2024)

About the National Academy of Engineering

Founded in 1964, NAE advances the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering. The NAE is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, an independent, nonprofit organization chartered by Congress to provide objective analysis and advice to the nation on matters of science, technology, and health.