Morgan State University Provost Hongtao Yu Named American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow

Distinguished Recognition Among the Highest Honors in the Scientific Community

BALTIMORE — Morgan State University’s esteemed faculty and researchers continue to gain national recognition. Hongtao Yu, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This prestigious honor adds to Morgan’s growing roster of renowned scholars recognized by one of the world’s largest general scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals. Becoming an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor within the scientific community, only bestowed to a select few who have made significant contributions to research, teaching, technology, and administration across academia, industry, and government. Dr. Yu joins the 2024 class of AAAS Fellows, comprised of 471 distinguished scientists, engineers, and innovators recognized for their notable scientific and social achievements from around the world and across 24 disciplines. He is the sixth Morgan scientist to receive the honor within the last five years and the ninth in University history.

“Dr. Hongtao Yu’s election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science is a testament to his extraordinary contributions to research, academic leadership, and scientific advancement. This well-deserved recognition places him among an elite group of scholars whose work has had a profound impact across disciplines,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan. “His induction not only elevates his personal legacy but also reinforces Morgan’s standing as a premier research institution producing world-class scholarship. We are incredibly proud of Dr. Yu and celebrate this achievement.”

Elected by the AAAS Council in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding research contributions to the chemical sciences and education, Yu becomes part of a tradition dating back to 1874, joining such notable Fellows such as Thomas Edison, W.E.B DuBois, Maria Mitchell, Steven Chu, Ellen Ochoa, Irwin M. Jacobs, Mae Jemison, and Grace Hopper. In addition to his role as Morgan State University’s Provost, Dr. Hongtao Yu is a Professor of Chemistry and previously served as Dean of the School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. His research expertise spans chemical toxicology, photochemistry, environmental chemistry, and nanoscience, with a particular focus on the properties and biological effects of nanomaterials; the environmental fate, toxicity, and photochemical behavior of various chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); cosmetic and skin care products; nanomaterials; and industrial waste chemicals. Dr. Yu’s work contributes to advancing scientific understanding of how these substances interact with biological systems and the environment.

“I am deeply honored to be elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a recognition that reflects my commitment to scientific inquiry and academic leadership and the incredible research environment we continue to foster at Morgan State University. To join the distinguished ranks of Morgan faculty and researchers who have received this prestigious honor is both humbling and inspiring,” said Dr. Yu. “This recognition underscores the University’s expanding influence in scientific discovery and innovation, and I am proud to contribute to that legacy. I look forward to continuing our mission of advancing research excellence and elevating Morgan’s presence on the global stage.”

Dr. Yu is among the nine Fellows who have been elected from Morgan throughout its history. This distinguished list includes:

Morgan State College

• Norvell Hunter, Zoological Sciences – 1963
• Thomas Fraser, Zoological Sciences/Anthropology – 1958
• Dwight Holmes, (section unavailable) - 1942

Morgan State University

• Hongtao Yu, Industrial Science and Technology – 2024
• Paul Tchounwou, Industrial Science and Technology – 2023
• Kevin Kornegay, Industrial Science and Technology – 2023
• Farin Kamangar, Industrial Science and Technology – 2023
• Christine Hohmann, Neuroscience – 2021
• Willie May, Industrial Science and Technology – 2019

The American Association for the Advancement of Science was the first permanent organization established to promote the development of science and engineering at the national level and to represent the interests of all its disciplines. AAAS has individual members from over 91 countries worldwide. This spring, newly elected AAAS Fellows will be honored for their outstanding achievements at a live event in Washington, D.C. The new Fellows will receive an official certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin, which symbolize science and engineering.

“This year’s class of Fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities,” said Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D., AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “At a time when the future of the scientific enterprise in the U.S. and around the world is uncertain, their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering.”

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 academic degree and certificate programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:
Chery Stewart or Larry Jones, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022