About the award
The Sung-Mo Steve Kang Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award was established through the generosity of Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang, chancellor emeritus of UC Merced and distinguished professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering at the Baskin School of Engineering. The annual award recognizes a faculty member whose work embodies the mission and values of UC Santa Cruz through exemplary contributions in unseen ways that enhance the student experience and empower members of our community from historically marginalized groups. Established through Kang’s vision and generosity, the award exemplifies his commitment to transforming engineering’s demographic landscape and reflects Kang’s belief that technological progress and social progress must advance together.
Recipients of the Steve Kang Award
How to nominate faculty
Submit nominations through this form by December 1 each year.
Who is eligible: All Baskin Engineering senate faculty and lecturers.
Who can nominate: Anyone affiliated with the broader Baskin Engineering community can nominate, including Baskin Engineering undergraduate students, graduate students, staff members, professors, researchers, post-doc scholars, any other faculty member of any designation, or alumni.
Learn more about Steve Kang
Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang is a leading figure in electrical engineering and academic leadership, whose career spans groundbreaking research, institutional transformation, and advocacy for inclusive excellence. After earning a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from UC Berkeley, Kang went on to reshape institutions and advance his various fields of interest while furthering the cause of equity in STEM.
As dean of Baskin Engineering from 2001 to 2007, Kang catalyzed the school’s emergence as a nexus for cross-disciplinary innovation and established the foundations for growth. Key achievements include the creation of the Department of Biomolecular Engineering, the construction of the Engineering 2 building and the Jack Baskin Engineering Auditorium, and launching the Center for Biomimetic Microelectronics.
Kang is also a globally recognized authority in integrated circuit design, low-power electronics, and semiconductor reliability. He has written or contributed to over 400 scholarly publications and has produced multiple books on nanotechnology and electrical engineering. His outstanding work and leadership has garnered elections to the National Academy of Engineering and an appointment to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Kang also demonstrated a remarkable commitment to transforming engineering’s demographic landscape. The Sung-Mo Steve Kang DEI Award at UC Santa Cruz—established through Kang’s vision and generosity—exemplifies this dedication. The award of his namesake honors Baskin Engineering faculty who champion DEI within engineering disciplines, in reflection of Kang’s belief that technological progress and social progress must advance together.