The Cleveland State University (CSU) Chemistry Department and the broader university community fondly remember the legacy of Professor Emeritus Dr. Lily M. Ng, who passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN, at the age of 79.

The former department chair was celebrated for her exceptional service within and beyond the University. Her pioneering efforts include establishing the Cleveland State University-Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) joint Molecular Medicine Specialization Program, providing stewardship for the CSU-CCF joint PhD Program in Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry, actively participating in the formation of the College of Science, and serving tirelessly on an extraordinary number of committees. She also promoted chemistry as a profession through her participation in numerous professional societies. She was genuinely committed to recruiting, retaining, and guiding undergraduate and graduate students, as well as young faculty members. Dr. Ng provided leadership to the Department of Chemistry, the National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry (Iota Sigma Pi), the American Chemical Society Cleveland Section, and the Chinese American Faculty and Staff Association of Cleveland State University, in addition to being a generous philanthropist to the department.

Dr. Ng attended the University of Hong Kong and Governors State University in Illinois and earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2023, she was named a Dietrich School Distinguished Alumna by The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. This award deservedly recognizes Dr. Ng's remarkable professional achievements as an academic and an administrator, as well as her dedication to her students.

Dr. Ng had a distinguished career. During her nearly 20 years at CSU, she promoted chemistry education and science literacy across the university. She served on 35 different university and college committees, 23 departmental committees, and 77 dissertation/thesis committees, graduating eight Ph.D. and two M.S. students from her own research group. With an impressive scholarly record, Dr. Ng has published over 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals. During her time at CSU, she also served as the Director of Chemistry Graduate Programs and as Department Chair.

Dr. Ng was truly willing to help students inside and outside her classroom. She maintained an open-door policy and tirelessly advised and assisted students applying to graduate and professional schools. She helped students apply for national awards and supported graduate students in all aspects of their lives, including counseling them on financial, medical, and other personal matters. She was considered a close friend and mentor by most chemistry graduate and undergraduate students.

Dr. Ng also provided leadership in professional organizations. She served as the first minority national president in the 100-year history of Iota Sigma Pi: National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry, was the first minority Chair of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Cleveland Section, and was a founding member and two-time president of the Chinese American Faculty and Staff Association of CSU.

Among Dr. Ng’s notable accomplishments are being the first female minority full professor and chair in the CSU Chemistry Department, the first minority president of Iota Sigma Pi, and a founding member and two-time president of the Chinese American Faculty and Staff Association at CSU. In 2022, CSU conferred upon Dr. Ng the Distinguished Emeritus Faculty Honorary Degree, recognizing a lifetime of excellence in teaching and leadership.

Dr. Ng was a generous, long-time donor to student and faculty activities in the department. She used her own money to purchase drinking water for the department office and provided refreshments, including drinks, cookies, and fruit, for weekly department seminars and monthly faculty meetings. In 1991, she established the FC Mark Award for excellence among Freshmen Chemistry Students and Chemistry Teaching Assistants, to which she subsequently donated over $14,000. Additionally, she donated $8,000 to establish the Undergraduate Summer Research Award and $5,000 to establish the Young Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award within the Chemistry Department.

As we raise our voices in tribute, let us carry forward Dr. Ng's light: to teach kindly, to connect deeply, and to serve broadly. She may no longer walk among us, but her spirit dances in every mind ignited and every story told. Thank you, Dr. Ng, for a life so richly lived—one that continues to inspire us all.