Dr. Liz Chang – 46 Years of Service

Retiring from Hood after 46 years, Dr. Chang has made invaluable contributions and served our students and the institution with unparalleled dedication, commitment and distinction.

“Her contributions to the College are too many to enumerate fully,” emphasized Dr. April Boulton, dean of the Graduate School, at the ceremony. Professor Chang came to Hood in 1972 to teach in the Department of Mathematics where she taught at all levels of the curriculum. Always academically curious and energetic, she became interested in an emerging field, computer science, and working with another mathematics professor, she spearheaded curricular innovations that introduced the first programming course at Hood.

Fast forward several years later, when, while teaching hundreds of students in mathematics and developing several new courses in computing, she created the computer science program. The growth and interest in the program was such that in the early 2000s, the College established the Department of Computer Science.

Professor Chang switched her focus and taught exclusively in the new department, where she served for many years as the department chairperson, designed the Web minor, helped develop master’s programs and served as a graduate program director for many years on different occasions for most of our programs. Dr. Chang was active and resourceful in bringing only the best to her students.

For instance, in 2015, Dr. Chang was awarded an Academic Innovation Grant with her proposal to develop "Flipped Classroom" materials for Web Development classes, when she created materials that allowed students to explore technical content before practicing it in class and to review it after class.

Professor Chang has taught across virtually all of our undergraduate and graduate programs including courses in mathematics, the core curriculum and the First-Year Seminar. Even now, her students from decades ago remember her courses fondly and never miss an opportunity to express the impact her teaching had on their lives and professional careers. Her service to the College spans more than four decades of continuous leadership and innovation.

Congratulations to Dr. Liz Chang for an outstanding 46 years of service, and we wish her a very happy and interesting retirement!!