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“Kent State was the first stop on my American Dream. My wife, Kate Luo, was also a proud beneficiary of Kent State’s education and generosity. Whatever humble achievements we’ve made, we owe them to Kent State. By giving back, we hope others like us will have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

When Cheng Chen, Ph.D. ’06, arrived at �鶹����’s Liquid Crystal Institute in 2001, he could not have predicted how profoundly his work would shape the future of technology. While at Kent, if he was going on a road trip, he would use maps and trace his route by hand, often carrying a walkie talkie in case he needed to reach a friend in another car. He remembers hunting for ATMs to withdraw cash, and how he once had to wait for a passerby to give him a lift after getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

Five years later, with a Ph.D. in chemical physics, Cheng joined Apple Inc., where his vision and technical expertise launched products that transformed the way billions of people interact with the world. Now, as senior director of hardware technology at Apple, Cheng stands as one of the most influential figures in display innovation, leading a team of more than 300 engineers and scientists.

‘Today, all I need is an iPhone—it guides me on the fastest route, lets me pay securely with a tap, sends SOS texts via satellite and can even detect accidents and call 911 automatically,” said Cheng. “I feel privileged to have been part of the force that enabled such positive change in billions of people’s lives.”

His career has been defined by his ability to bridge advanced scientific research with groundbreaking consumer applications. At Apple, he played a central role in the creation of the first iPad and was the driving force behind the Fringe Field Switching (FFS) display system. That breakthrough, which Steve Jobs famously coined Retina display, set a new global standard for clarity and performance.

Cheng’s interest in display technology began during his university days in Beijing. While biking down a street with computer shops, he noticed banners that read “LG Flat Panel LCD.” He was curious about LCD and captivated by the display’s thinness. Later, when applying for graduate school, he received a brochure from the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State, immediately connecting it with that memory of the LCD banners. “I discovered that LCI was actually the birthplace of LCD technology; I knew I had found the right place,” said Cheng.

Over the years, his leadership and innovations have touched nearly every major Apple product, from iPhones and Apple Watches to MacBooks, iPads and desktop displays. Most recently, he was instrumental in the development of Apple Vision Pro, the company’s revolutionary spatial computing device launched in 2024.

Cheng’s contributions have not only shaped Apple’s success but also elevated the entire global display industry, steering it toward advanced, high-quality technologies rather than commodity cost-cutting. He holds 177 patents, with innovations spanning display architectures, in-cell touch integration, variable refresh rate technology, LED backlight systems and True Tone Display.

Despite his global influence, Cheng has remained deeply connected to Kent State. He credits the Liquid Crystal Institute with giving him the scientific foundation and professional network that launched his career. In turn, he has given back by hiring and mentoring numerous Kent State Ph.D. graduates at Apple.

“He has been responsible for hiring dozens of Kent State graduates, putting them in positions where they could make key contributions,” said Philip Bos, M.A. ’74, Ph.D. ’78, professor and associate director of the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State and one of Cheng’s mentors.

Cheng holds equal admiration for his Ph.D. advisor, who helped prepare him for his career.  “The Chemical Physics program surrounded me with brilliant and generous faculty who taught me not only about science, but also about how to approach work, life and people,” he said. “Among them, Dr. Philip Bos was by far the most influential and became my greatest role model. His kindness, generosity and guidance have left a lasting impact on me, and I will forever be grateful to him.”

A leader, mentor and advocate at Apple, Cheng supports junior engineers through the company’s Mentorship Circle program and serves as executive sponsor for Women in Display at Apple, advancing inclusion in a highly technical field. He has dedicated nearly two decades to the Society for Information Display (SID), serving as seminar chair, program chair and general chair before being named a fellow in 2022. He has also championed opportunities for students and early-career professionals, ensuring the next generation of innovators can succeed.

“Kent State was the first stop on my American Dream, “ said Cheng. “My wife, Kate Luo, was also a proud beneficiary of Kent State’s education and generosity. She earned her master’s degree in accounting in 2007, became a CPA, and went on to build a career as a financial analyst in a leading semiconductor company. Whatever humble achievements we’ve made, we owe them to Kent State. By giving back, we hope others like us will have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

Cheng’s journey from Kent State’s labs to the forefront of Apple’s most iconic innovations illustrates the profound reach a Golden Flash can have when curiosity meets opportunity. He exemplifies how passion fuels innovation, and his achievements will continue to inspire countless individuals for generations to come.