Mung Chiang, president of Purdue University since January 2023, will become Northwestern University's 18th president. Chiang is a first-generation immigrant who will serve as Northwestern's first Asian American president.
Chiang arrived at Purdue after holding leadership roles at Princeton University and Carnegie Mellon University. His appointment comes as Northwestern searches for continuity in its leadership following recent transitions. At Purdue, Chiang oversaw one of the nation's largest research universities, managing a complex institution within the Big Ten athletic conference and research community.
Northwestern, located in Evanston, Illinois, ranks among the top private research universities in the United States. The university enrolls roughly 8,300 undergraduate students and 6,700 graduate students across schools including engineering, journalism, law, and medicine.
Chiang's background in engineering and research aligns with Northwestern's institutional priorities. His tenure at Purdue demonstrated his ability to lead large-scale research operations and navigate the challenges facing major universities. Purdue, with more than 45,000 students across its West Lafayette campus, is known for engineering programs and agricultural research.
As Northwestern's first Asian American president, Chiang's appointment reflects the university's commitment to diverse leadership. His immigrant background adds another dimension to his leadership profile in higher education.
The transition marks another leadership change at a top-tier research university. Northwestern's board of trustees selected Chiang through a national search process that evaluated candidates for their experience managing complex academic institutions, fundraising capabilities, and strategic vision.
Chiang's move from Purdue to Northwestern represents movement among Big Ten universities in pursuit of leadership talent. Both institutions compete for research funding, faculty recruitment, and student enrollment in overlapping academic markets. His appointment signals Northwestern's confidence in selecting a proven leader from within the peer research university ecosystem rather than seeking an outsider to