Northwestern University announced that Mung Chiang has been named the institution’s 18th president. Chiang, who currently serves as president of Purdue University, will officially begin his new role on July 1 following an extensive global search led by representatives from Northwestern’s Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and student body.
Chiang succeeds Michael Schill, who stepped down in September 2025. Henry Bienen will continue serving as interim president through the end of June.
Throughout his academic and administrative career, Chiang has built a reputation as a researcher, educator, innovator, and university leader focused on expanding research, supporting students and faculty, championing free expression, and advancing interdisciplinary collaboration. At Purdue, Chiang oversaw significant growth in research activity, including surpassing $1 billion in sponsored research expenditures, while also expanding partnerships across technology, healthcare, and business sectors.
Prior to becoming Purdue’s president in 2023, Chiang served as dean of Purdue’s College of Engineering and later as executive vice president for strategic initiatives. Before joining Purdue, he spent 14 years at Princeton University, where he rose from assistant professor to chair professor and helped launch entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives.
Chiang is also recognized nationally for his contributions to science and technology policy. He helped design and implement the federal CHIPS and Science Act and previously served as science and technology advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State, becoming the first engineer to hold the role. His research focuses on networking optimization, the Internet of Things, social networks, and smart data pricing.
He earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University and has received numerous honors, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Founders Medal, the National Science Foundation Alan T. Waterman Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Chiang is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.
Northwestern leaders highlighted Chiang’s interdisciplinary mindset and leadership experience as key factors in his selection. Steve Cahillane said Chiang emerged as “a brilliant mind and driven leader” who understands how interdisciplinary collaboration fuels innovation. Peter Barris added that Chiang’s leadership positions him to guide Northwestern’s future growth as a global research institution.
Chiang emphasized that his first priority will be listening and learning from the Northwestern community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, healthcare leaders, and athletic programs.
KEY QUOTES:
“I am honored and thrilled to be Northwestern’s next president. I have long admired Northwestern for its dedication to interdisciplinary scholarship, artistic creation and impactful research, its tremendous healthcare system, and its palpable school spirit.
Generations of Northwestern students and colleagues have elevated this University to international preeminence. I look forward to serving alongside all the colleagues to continue Northwestern’s upward trajectory.
My first priority is to listen to and learn about Northwestern’s distinct culture and this community of scholarly and creative minds, because what matters most is the ‘who’ before the ‘what.’
I plan to engage with as many members of our community as possible: students and parents, faculty and staff, alumni and donors, neighbors and partners, as well as all the trustees. I will listen to every one of the 12 colleges and schools, cheer every one of the 21 sports teams, visit Northwestern Medicine hospitals, and participate in every cherished campus tradition.
Every great institution has its own culture and distinct traditions, and I am looking forward to learning Northwestern’s. Our purple is proudly unique, and there is no university quite like Northwestern. I am truly excited to join the Northwestern community.”
Mung Chiang, President-elect of Northwestern University
“In my many conversations with Mung through the search process, he consistently has emphasized how he views Northwestern as one of the world’s most eminent comprehensive universities, at which the interdisciplinary culture drives innovation and new ideas.
Mung emerged as a brilliant mind and driven leader who brings relatable and authentic qualities to the way he operates, a great combination to lead Northwestern.”
Steve Cahillane, Vice Chair of Northwestern University Board of Trustees
“Mung has his sights set on advancing and enhancing Northwestern among the world’s great research institutions. Through his stellar academic and administrative leadership at multiple institutions, Mung has demonstrated his ability to harness opportunity and momentum while embracing the breadth and depth of a university. My fellow board members could not be more thrilled for Mung to lead Northwestern into the future.”
Peter Barris, Chair of Northwestern University Board of Trustees
“The committee was looking for a leader to advance the mission of the University with energy, creativity and curiosity, across the full range of scholarship, teaching and public service.
With Mung Chiang, we found a dynamic Wildcat to lead Northwestern, one who evinces passionate commitment to what a great university makes possible, for students, scholars and society. I look forward to welcoming him to Northwestern.”
Ian Hurd, Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University
“Mung Chiang is a distinguished scholar who brings understanding and experience in the complexities of research-intense universities, along with a proven ability to grow the resources that power discovery.
His genuine commitment to faculty, students and staff and his ability to bring people and ideas together across disciplines to deliver results are exactly what Northwestern needs to remain at the forefront of innovation.”
Susan Quaggin, Chair of the Department of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
