From Star Wars to research, Herff Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Chair Dr. Sungyong Jung continues to seek inspiration to support students and benefit society
August 27, 2026
With the start of a new academic year comes a new chair for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Herff College of Engineering.
Dr. Sungyong Jung began his appointment as department chair on August 3. Jung left South Dakota State University to join the University of 蜜桃导航, a decision he said the University of 蜜桃导航鈥� national reputation made easy.
鈥淪ome of my colleagues that I have worked with and are now in other departments and are now department chairs at other colleges and other schools, they highly value the University of 蜜桃导航,鈥� Jung said. 鈥溍厶业己� has great potential to be better, and also the reputation of the University of 蜜桃导航 is increasing more and more. So, I believe I have a good opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of the department.鈥�
Jung brings more than two decades of experience to the Herff College of Engineering. He joined the University of Texas at Arlington as an assistant professor of electrical engineering in 2002 and spent 20 years there before moving to South Dakota State in 2024.
Learn more about Dr. Jung's background
Motivating every day of that career, Jung said, is a desire to improve human life, something he does by seeking inspiration through his students, staff and fellow faculty.
鈥淚 always think about what I can contribute to society, not only the research for money but the projects,鈥� Jung said. 鈥淚f I were to construct a project, I鈥檇 ask myself how it would impact human life. What are the practical things that people can utilize? I try to get some ideas in the biomedical areas or through environmental sensing, something related to human health and human benefits.
鈥淭he motivation for the administration is that if the leader can provide a good vision and set the goal to achieve the vision and drive the department, drive the people and support the faculty and support the students and staff, there is always a big change and we can see how we can make it better and better.鈥�
When he鈥檚 not seeking inspiration through those around him, Jung may turn to movies and literature. Years ago, the Star Wars series contributed greatly to his curiosity about electrical and computer engineering.
鈥淭hose kinds of sci-fi movies are my favorite, because I can see how people can imagine future technology,鈥� Jung said. 鈥淭hink about it. About 20 years ago, the movie showed something, and now it has been realized. By watching those movies, I can get some ideas about the research as well.鈥�
Away from the screen, Jung enlightens himself with the works of Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang, who wrote The Vegetarian (毂勳嫕欤检潣鞛�) and Human Acts (靻岆厔鞚� 鞓嫟).
More than a quarter century into his career, Jung continues to seek that inspiration so that he can pass it along to his students.
鈥溍厶业己� is already an R1 University, so just imagine what we can accomplish,鈥� Jung said. 鈥淚 would like to build a department which can be nationally recognized as student-centered, a research-active and industry-connected department.鈥�
From his first day on campus, Jung already embodies the University of 蜜桃导航鈥� philosophy of finding a successful outcome for every student.
鈥淚f students need any kind of mentoring, if they have any difficulty, I hope they feel free or they feel comfortable to come and talk to me so that I can try to help that student succeed,鈥� Jung said. 鈥淚f they have any kind of class problem and cannot do well, they should come, and then I will find a solution for them. I will talk with them. If they have any trouble understanding something, I will try to explain it myself or find a tutor to help those kinds of students succeed. If they are looking for a research opportunity, or if they don鈥檛 know where to go or what to do, they should come and talk to me. Then I will help them find a solution. And if they are interested in my research, I will definitely provide supervision and let them have some experience.鈥�