Image: We are very sad to share the news that the Plant Biology Department has lost one its brightest lights and warmest hearts. After a difficult battle with cancer, Shu-Mei Chang, Professor of Plant Biology, passed away in her sleep on March 14, 2025, surrounded by her family. Shu-Mei was the youngest child in a tight-knit, extended family in Banqiao, Taiwan. She fondly remembered growing up playing with her siblings and cousins, exploring the Lin Family gardens, visiting with college friends, and getting sweet-bean buns from local street vendors. After receiving a master’s degree in Zoology from Taiwan National University, Shu-Mei moved to the U.S. where she earned a spot in the graduate program at Duke University. While at Duke she completed a Ph.D. studying plant reproductive ecology, made many close friends, and met her future husband. Shu-Mei started working at the University of Georgia in 2001 where she was an inspirational research mentor guiding ten graduate students as they earned their own degrees, as well as serving on the advising committees of dozens more. Shu-Mei was the Graduate Coordinator for the Plant Biology Department for six years and was highly regarded for her help in skillfully guiding the program through the pandemic. Shu-Mei taught a popular course examining the role of flowers in plant reproduction and helped hundreds of students develop a better appreciation for these beloved but often misunderstood structures. She was an exceptional colleague and her bright spirit and her friendship will be deeply missed. Shu-Mei will be most fondly remembered as a loving wife and mother, a cherished friend, and a respected colleague. She was known for her cheerful personality, her quick wit, and for how much she cared for the well-being of her students. Shu-Mei was an avid badminton player and loved getting together with friends to play each week and with whom she won multiple statewide tournaments. She also sang Chinese Opera and loved to grow different kinds of plants, especially orchids, filling her family’s house with their blossoms throughout the year. Shu-Mei is survived by her husband and two children, her mother, brother, sister, several nieces, nephews and cousins in Taiwan, and her cats Jinx and Merlin. Our thoughts are with her family. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity or consider one of the following: • UGA Plant Biology Department Graduate Student Award Endowment at https://www.plantbio.uga.edu/support-us • UGA International Student Emergency Fund at https://gail.uga.edu/commit?id=4dbfffe0-cd58-4be1-97f0-81f3053b7227 A ceremony for friends to remember Shu-Mei will be held at a future date.
