Rate My Professor Cheng Wang

Cheng Wang, Ph.D., is the Department Chair, Assistant Professor, and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Aviation at Minnesota State University, Mankato's College of Education. In this role, she oversees the department's academic programs, including the online Master of Science in Aviation Safety. Dr. Wang's academic background is rooted in aviation and safety engineering. She obtained her Ph.D. in Aviation Technology and Master of Science in Aviation and Aerospace Management from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Safety Engineering from the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin, China.

Dr. Wang's research interests focus on aviation safety, airport operations, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sightings. Her peer-reviewed publications include "Characteristics of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Sightings and Airport Safety," co-authored with Sarah M. Hubbard and published in the Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering in 2021. Other key works are "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Trends in Representation of Women in Aviation Academia," co-authored with Caroline K. Marete in the Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research in 2024; "Caffeine Consumption Patterns and Beliefs Among Collegiate Aviators," co-authored with Jessica Stelton and Laura Beinecke in the International Journal of Aviation Research in 2024; and the conference paper "The Role of Education in Attracting Young People as the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals" presented at the ASEE North Midwest Section Conference. She also released a dataset, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Sighting Data 2016 to 2021, via Purdue University Research Repository and serves as Guest Editor for the special issue "Urban Air Mobility Solutions: UAVs for Smarter Cities" in the journal Drones.

Dr. Wang was honored with the 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award at Minnesota State University, Mankato for her dedication to student mentorship. She serves on the Undergraduate Research Center Council (2024-2027) and has delivered keynote addresses at university symposia, such as "Empowering Minds: My Journey as an Undergraduate Research Mentor," enhancing aviation research and education.