Title: Honors Professor of Chemistry
Company: Oakwood University
Location: Harvest, Alabama, United States
Steven Lai Hing, Honors Professor of Chemistry at Oakwood University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in chemistry and higher education.
Dr. Lai Hing has significantly contributed to chemistry and education with a career spanning over a decade. Since 2024, he has served as an honors professor of chemistry at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, where he teaches several courses and mentors students in research. Additionally, Dr. Lai Hing serves as the Association of American Medical Colleges liaison for pre-health students and is the principal investigator for federally funded grants. His role involves overseeing research projects, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements while mentoring students engaged in research. He also serves as the Oakwood University Fulbright Scholar liaison. He is the head coach of the Oakwood Honda Campus All Star Challenge trivia team, who won the National Championship in 2024.
Recruited for a faculty position at Oakwood University in 2017, Dr. Lai Hing began as an associate professor of chemistry for over five years before being named a full professor of chemistry in 2023. He received continuous appointment (tenure) the following year. His earlier academic roles included serving as a graduate teaching fellow at Texas A&M University Center for Teaching Excellence from 2016 to 2017 and as a graduate research assistant in biology at Texas A&M University between 2012 and 2016. Dr. Lai Hing also gained valuable experience as a graduate research assistant in biochemistry at Texas A&M University from 2007 to 2011 and as an undergraduate research assistant at Oakwood University between 2002 and 2006.
Dr. Lai Hing’s academic journey is marked by impressive achievements. He holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry, at which point he was selected as the Dr. Emerson Cooper Student of the Year. from Oakwood University since 2006, followed by a master’s degree in biochemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy in biology from Texas A&M University in 2017. His graduate work in drug design and antifungals resulted in patents both domestic and international. Recently, he received a Master of Business Administration in leadership from Oakwood University in 2025, with the highest GPA in the graduate program. These academic accomplishments have been instrumental in Dr. Lai Hing’s success as an educator and researcher.
In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Lai Hing is actively involved in various organizations. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He is the chair of the North Alabama Red Cross Board.
Beyond academia, Dr. Lai Hing is engaged in civic activities, such as coaching basketball at Oakwood University Church and volunteering with the Kicks for Kids charity. He has also coached NFL youth flag football for kids. As a seasoned researcher and scholar, Dr. Lai Hing has co-authored several publications, including textbooks “General Chemistry Part 1 Lab Manual: A Green Approach” in 2021, “General Chemistry Part 2 Lab Manual: A Green Approach” in 2021, and “Practical Biochemistry in the Lab” in 2022.
Throughout his career, Dr. Lai Hing has been recognized for his contributions to education and research. Notably, he secured a $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to enhance student recruitment and retention at Oakwood University. He was also selected as a Stanford teaching innovator, participating in both cohorts of the TLS program, which included summer residency at the Palo Alto campus. Dr. Lai Hing’s dedication to educational practices and student engagement in STEM fields has earned him accolades such as the inaugural Oakwood University Faculty Institute for Teaching Learning and Scholarship’s Fellowship Program Award in 2023. He was selected as a Forty under Forty Oakwood University Alum and was announced as an Oakwood Vanguard Society member in 2024.
Dr. Lai Hing attributes his success to caring deeply for his students and investing time and energy in their development. His future goals include increasing student enrollment at Oakwood University and boosting the number of underrepresented students pursuing graduate degrees in science, STEM, medicine, and dentistry.
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