Wayne H. Chen

Wayne H. Chen served as the dean of the College of Engineering for 15 years from 1973-88. Under his leadership, the college transformed into a nationally recognized center for research and education.

Chen received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering in China in 1944. After joining the military, he became the chief interpreter for the Field Artillery Training Center in Kunming under joint Chinese and American commands. In the late 1940s, he came to America to pursue his graduate degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics at the University of Washington in Seattle. Chen became a professor at UF in the early 1950s.

Among his many honors, he received a Florida Blue Key Outstanding Faculty Award, a Fellow Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Eminent Engineer Award from Tau Beta Pi and the University of Florida Teacher/Scholar Award. Under Chen the research expenditures at the College of Engineering rose from $4 million in 1973 to almost $30 million in 1988. He also established the college’s Office of Minority Affairs.

“Wayne was a person of great generosity of spirit. He opened his heart to everyone,” said Robert A. Bryan, UF’s provost during Chen’s tenure as dean. “We all will miss Wayne’s laughter and energy as well as his unquenchable spirit, which helped to lead the college by giving the right example to show us the way.” Chen died of heart failure on May 4, 1992. The scholarship is maintained in his memory by his wife, Dorothy H. Chen.