Northwestern University's Board of Trustees announced on 18/5 the appointment of Professor Mung Chiang, 49, as its 18th president. Chiang, who will assume the role in July after concluding his tenure as president of Purdue University, US, was selected after a global search that saw him prevail over a strong field of candidates. He is currently the head of the highest-ranked US university led by an Asian-American scholar. Northwestern described him as a renowned researcher, educator, national science advisor, and a higher education leader.

Chiang expressed his long-standing admiration for Northwestern, citing its dedication to interdisciplinary academics, artistic creativity, impactful research, robust healthcare system, and vibrant spirit.

Professor Mung Chiang. *Photo: Northwestern Now News*

Mung Chiang and his family moved from Tianjin to Hong Kong, China, when he was 11, where he attended Queen's College. At that time, he spoke little Cantonese and very little English. Through hard work, he achieved a perfect score of 10 A's in the 1995 Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE), earning recognition from SCMP as the "Most Outstanding Language Student of the Year".

At 18, Chiang moved to Stanford University, US, where he earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering. He began his academic career in 2003 at Princeton University, a prestigious Ivy League institution. His research areas include network optimization, fog computing, internet of things (IoT), and intelligent data pricing. During his 14 years at Princeton, he was one of the youngest professors to hold an endowed chair. In 2017, he transitioned to Purdue University as Dean of Engineering, before being appointed President in 2023.

At Purdue, Professor Chiang spearheaded the expansion of research activities, helping the university attract over 1 billion USD in funding and forge strategic partnerships with businesses. He also advanced major initiatives in technology, healthcare, and business. He is a member of scientific organizations such as the US National Academy of Engineering and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. He has received awards including the IEEE Founder's Medal and the Alan T. Waterman Award from the US National Science Foundation, the highest US government honor for researchers under 40. Furthermore, he served as a science and technology advisor to the US Secretary of State, initiating significant technology diplomacy initiatives. He currently chairs the US Energy Security and Innovation Foundation's board.

Mung Chiang (center) receiving the "Most Outstanding Language Student" award in 1996. *Photo: SCMP*

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is currently ranked 7th among US universities by US News. Globally, it holds the 30th position in the THE ranking and 42nd in the QS ranking.

A few months ago, Professor S. Jack Hu was appointed president of the University of California-Riverside, part of the prestigious public university system. He is the first mainland China graduate to lead a US university.

Khanh Linh (*According to Northwestern Now News, SCMP*)