Northwestern’s Board of Trustees announced Monday that Mung Chiang, current president of Purdue University, will serve as the 18th president of Northwestern, effective July 1. After serving as the president of Purdue for three years, he will be switching over from one Big Ten institution to another.
President-elect Chiang, a first-generation immigrant, will be the University’s first Asian American president. He succeeds former President Michael Schill, who resigned from his role in September 2025. Emeritus President Henry Bienen will continue to serve in his interim role through the end of June, according to a University press release.
“I want 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 trustees,” Chiang said in a message to the Northwestern community. “I will come to every one of the 12 colleges and schools, cheer every one of our 21 sports teams, visit our clinical partners at Northwestern Medicine and beyond, and participate in every cherished campus tradition.”
Chiang joined Purdue as the John A. Edwardson dean of the College of Engineering in 2017. Notably, he was the first engineer to serve as the science and technology adviser to former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during Trump’s first administration.
He then went on to become Purdue’s executive vice president for strategic initiatives from 2021 to 2023. Under Chiang, Purdue significantly expanded research activity, surpassing $1 billion in sponsored research expenditures and securing $3.9 billion in investments to build an AI memory chip advanced packaging facility.
Chiang holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and mathematics, as well as a master’s and a Ph.D in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He is credited with 26 U.S. patents, most of which are licensed for network deployment. Prior to his Purdue tenure, Chiang spent 14 years at Princeton University, becoming one of the institution’s youngest chair professors.
“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,” said Ian Hurd, professor of political science, president of the Faculty Senate and member of the Presidential Search Committee in the release.
The president‑elect is also one of the youngest Northwestern presidents in recent years. Chiang will assume office at only 49, compared to former presidents Morton Schapiro and Michael Schill, who began their tenures at 55 and 63, respectively.
His appointment quickly drew attention across higher education. The president‑elect page features messages of support from leaders across academia and industry, including the presidents of the University of Chicago and Princeton as well as Trustee Ginni Rometty, former IBM chairman, CEO and president.
Chiang himself has already expressed his purple pride and enthusiasm ahead of stepping into the role. Shortly after the Board’s announcement on Monday, he stopped by Allison Dining Commons to eat ice cream and greet students, drawing in a crowd.
“Our purple is proudly unique, and there is no university quite like Northwestern. I am truly excited to join the Northwestern community,” Chiang said in the press release.
