Weidong Zhu is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds degrees from Arizona State University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His research focuses on structural dynamics, vibrations, finite element modeling, and structural health monitoring. He has published over 50 journal articles, more than 100 conference papers, and holds several patents in the U.S. and China. Dr. Zhu is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and was honored as the ASME Rayleigh Lecturer in 2024. He received the NSF CAREER Award and was named Maryland Innovator of the Year. At UMBC, he developed advanced research laboratories and led outreach initiatives for K–12 STEM education. He also held leadership roles at Saint Peter’s University, including Dean and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. As an educator, he introduced active learning techniques and mentored numerous students. Dr. Zhu’s career reflects a strong blend of innovation, scholarship, and academic leadership.