Jean W. Zu joined the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in 1994 after receiving her BSc and MSc degrees from Tsinghua University and PhD from the University of Manitoba. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 1999 and to full Professor in 2004. She has held her position as Associate Chair, Research, in MIE since June 2008. Her research focuses on mechanical vibrations and dynamic analysis of mechanical systems, particularly in automotive applications as well development of bio-instruments for tissue study and tissue engineering research.

Jean is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), and the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineering (CSME). She served as President of the CSME from 2006 – 2008 and on an NSERC Grant Selection Committee from 2004-2007. She currently serves as Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Vibrations and Acoustics. She has authored 90 referred journal publications and over 110 conference papers.

1. What kind of music do you listen to when you want to relax?
   
   Classical music.
   

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2. Who (other than family members) do you admire most?
   
   Cristina Amon is an excellent role model.
   

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3. Where did you grow up?
   
   Beijing, China.
   

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4. iPhone or Blackberry?
   
   I don't have one yet and plan to get a Blackberry.
   

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5. What is your definition of leadership?
   
   Provide vision and goals and be able to achieve the goals.
   

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6. What are your ambitions/goals for your portfolio?
   
   Lead the Department to achieve excellence nationally and internationally in education and research through changes and new initiatives. Build a strong and exciting MIE community in which people enjoy their work with collegiality and strive for excellence.
   

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7. In one line or less describe our Faculty.
   
   Many promising and exciting changes are taking place.
   

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8. What’s one piece of advice you would give to future global engineering leaders?
   
   Life-time learning and adaptation to pursue your dream with persistence and patience.
   

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9. What do you feel has been your most important professional accomplishment to date?
   
   Successful lobbying with NSERC and the Ministry of Industry for the mechanical engineering community during my term as President of CSME (Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering).
   

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10. If you had not chosen a career in engineering academia, what else would you have done?
    
    I never live in regret and always enjoy and appreciate what I have. Therefore, I cannot think of anything else I would otherwise do.

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