Two Women Scholars Who Have Been Named Chair of Their Academic Departments

Emily Liu has been named head of the department of industrial and systems engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy New York. She is a professor of nuclear engineering and engineering physics at the university. Dr. Liu joined Rensselaer as a tenure-track assistant professor in 2006, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2013, and promoted to professor in 2019.

Dr. Liu received her bachelor’s degree in technical physics from Peking University in Beijing, China. She earned a Ph.D. in nuclear science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Miranda Drake has accepted the position of chair overseeing the dental hygiene department at the University of South Dakota. She has been serving as a clinical associate professor, clinical director, and interim director for the dental hygiene program at the University of Minnesota.

Drake received her undergraduate dental hygiene degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She holds a master’s degree in dental hygiene education from the University of Minnesota.