Dr. S. Jack Hu
Chancellor, University of California, Riverside
Dr. S. Jack Hu was appointed the tenth chancellor of the University of California, Riverside, in July 2025. A distinguished scholar and mechanical engineer by training, Dr. Hu brings nearly four decades of experience in education, research, and academic leadership to his role.
Before joining UCR, Dr. Hu served as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, where he led the academic mission in teaching, research, and service across 19 schools and colleges. At UGA, he advanced faculty hiring initiatives in precision agriculture, Parkinson’s research, data science, artificial intelligence, and electric mobility, and created the UGA Humanities Council—work that resulted in new research initiatives and centers.
Earlier in his career, he was vice president for research at the University of Michigan, where he oversaw a $1.5 billion research enterprise and launched interdisciplinary initiatives in data science and Mcity, a public-private partnership for connected and automated transportation.
Dr. Hu is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and holds 10 U.S. patents. He also served on President Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. His scholarly work spans assembly systems, materials joining, and quality control.
He is a fellow of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and is a recipient of several prestigious awards.
A first-generation college student, Dr. Hu earned his bachelor’s degrees from Tianjin University and his master’s and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.
Dr. S. Jack Hu was appointed the tenth chancellor of the University of California, Riverside, in July 2025. A distinguished scholar and mechanical engineer by training, Dr. Hu brings nearly four decades of experience in education, research, and academic leadership to his role.
Before joining UCR, Dr. Hu served as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, where he led the academic mission in teaching, research, and service across 19 schools and colleges. At UGA, he advanced faculty hiring initiatives in precision agriculture, Parkinson’s research, data science, artificial intelligence, and electric mobility, and created the UGA Humanities Council—work that resulted in new research initiatives and centers.
Earlier in his career, he was vice president for research at the University of Michigan, where he oversaw a $1.5 billion research enterprise and launched interdisciplinary initiatives in data science and Mcity, a public-private partnership for connected and automated transportation.
Dr. Hu is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and holds 10 U.S. patents. He also served on President Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. His scholarly work spans assembly systems, materials joining, and quality control.
He is a fellow of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and is a recipient of several prestigious awards.
A first-generation college student, Dr. Hu earned his bachelor’s degrees from Tianjin University and his master’s and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.