May 8, 2026
By Tracie Troha

In his nearly 40 years at Georgia Tech, Regents’ Professor Steven Liang has built a career advancing manufacturing research, mentoring students, and developing new ideas.

Now, he and his wife, Jen Liang, are investing in something designed to last far beyond it.

The Liangs have established the Jen and Steven Liang Professorship for Excellence in Mechanical Science and Engineering, a newly endowed professorship in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. Their monetary commitment, to be made available immediately, will support a tenured faculty member in the Woodruff School, with a focus on research innovation, education value, and professional service leadership.

With this gift, Steven becomes the first tenure-track faculty member to endow a professorship while still employed at Georgia Tech — and the first to do so across the University System of Georgia (USG). The milestone reflects his long-standing commitment to the Institute and his belief in the enduring value of faculty excellence.
 

Inspired by Family and Experience

The idea for the endowment came from the Liangs’ sons, Vincent and Franklin, who encouraged their parents to give back to Georgia Tech in a meaningful way. Vincent Liang and his wife Jackie are both Georgia Tech alumni, and Franklin Liang is a former staff member at the Georgia Tech Research Institute.

“Jen and I pondered upon it again and again for quite some time,” Steven Liang said. “We did the calculations, we weighed different options, and we kept coming back to the same conclusion: we couldn’t think of a better or more impactful way to utilize our resources than to make an endowment to Georgia Tech.”

For Steven, who also holds the Morris M. Bryan Jr. Professorship in Mechanical Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing Systems, the decision was also rooted in personal experience. As an endowed professor, he knows firsthand how flexible funding can shape a career.

“I benefited from my own professorship over the years,” Steven said. “That support helped me pursue ideas and initiatives that went a long way for my development.”

Now, he hopes to extend those opportunities to others.

“The Jen and Steven Liang Professorship can help deserving faculty grow and innovate,” he said. “It can also help the Woodruff School retain and attract outstanding faculty. That is very fulfilling to us.”
 

Fueling Innovation at Critical Moments

Endowed professorships provide resources often unavailable through traditional funding, especially for mid-career and senior faculty pursuing new and groundbreaking ideas.

Steven said those funds can support early-stage research, bridge gaps between projects, sustain graduate students, and facilitate team-based efforts.

“Without a feasibility study, how do you develop a strong proposal?” he said. “This support allows faculty to test new ideas and stay innovative.”

It also strengthens Georgia Tech’s research ecosystem and reputation.

“It’s not just about money,” he said. “A professorship represents the Institute’s trust in a faculty member. It’s an honor and recognition.”
 

A Shared Commitment

While Steven has had a long academic career at Tech, Jen emphasized that the gift is very much a shared decision.

“I see how much respect there is among the faculty here,” she said. “That gave me confidence in Georgia Tech and in mechanical engineering as the place to invest. And if other faculty see how much the Jen and Steven Liang professor is benefiting from the donation, then it might encourage them to join in and give back too.”

Steven echoed that sentiment, expressing hope that their example might inspire other faculty members to endow professorships.

“This is such a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the community that you love,” he said. “We’re hoping that, for faculty who’ve never thought about establishing an endowment, this will inspire them to do so.”
 

A Melody That Lingers

While Steven will eventually retire from his faculty career, he hopes the impact of this gift will continue long after.

“One day, my work and songs at Georgia Tech will stop,” he said. “But we hope the melody lingers on. We hope our presence and our love for this campus will go on and on through this donation in perpetuity.”

In establishing the Jen and Steven Liang Professorship for Excellence in Mechanical Science and Engineering, the Liangs are ensuring that melody will continue to resonate throughout the Woodruff School for generations to come.