Liesl Folks

Liesl Folks is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona, a member of the Graduate Faculty, and a nationally recognized leader in semiconductor technology and policy. She served as Provost of the University of Arizona from 2019 to 2023 and subsequently founded the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing, reflecting her strategic role in advancing critical technology infrastructure.

Her research focuses on nanoscale magnetic and spin-electronic devices, with applications in data storage, magnetic sensing, and logic systems. Key areas include microwave-assisted magnetic recording, spin-transfer-torque sensors, Hall cross field sensors, and nanoscale magnetic metrology. Her interdisciplinary work bridges physics, engineering, and global semiconductor supply chain policy.

Liesl Folks is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a recognition of her significant contributions to innovation, including 12 U.S. patents and over 60 peer-reviewed publications. She played a pivotal role in national policy as panel chair for the 2024 National Academies consensus report on assured access to semiconductors for the Department of Defense.

She has held prior leadership roles as Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University at Buffalo and spent 16 years in industrial R&D at IBM Almaden Research Center, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, and Western Digital. A strong advocate for broadening participation in engineering and science, she combines technical excellence with strategic vision in academia and policy.

Her educational background includes a PhD and BS in Physics from the University of Western Australia and an MBA from Cornell University, underscoring her unique blend of scientific depth and executive leadership.