Mung Chiang Named Purdue’s First Chinese‑American President – What It Means for Research Leadership

Dr. Mung Chiang, a 45‑year‑old Chinese‑American scientist, has been appointed as Purdue University's 13th president, the first person of Chinese descent to hold the position and the second internally promoted president in the university's history.

Purdue University, a public Ivy League institution in West Lafayette, Indiana, is renowned for its engineering legacy, having contributed to projects such as the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge, and counting 13 Nobel laureates among its alumni.

Chiang, who served as dean of Purdue's John A. Edwardson College of Engineering since 2017 and as executive vice president for strategic initiatives since April 2021, will succeed current president Mitch Daniels on January 1, 2023.

Born in Tianjin in 1977, Chiang attended high school in Hong Kong before earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University (1999‑2003). He later joined Princeton University as the Arthur LeGrand Professor of Electrical Engineering and became the first chair of Princeton's Entrepreneurship Committee.

Chiang holds 25 patents, founded three companies, and was named New Jersey CEO of the Year in 2014. In 2013 he received the Alan T. Waterman Award, recognizing him as one of the nation’s top scientists under 40.

His research excellence spans edge computing, internet congestion, cloud computing, video optimization, and other areas, with publications cited over 30,000 times, an H‑index of 81, and more than 50 doctoral graduates, many of whom now hold faculty positions at research universities.

During his five‑year tenure at Purdue, the university achieved record rankings in graduate, online, and undergraduate programs, set new records for government and industry research funding, and expanded its 12 international research centers.

Chiang also played a pivotal role in forging new relationships with federal agencies focused on national security and economic development, attracting corporate investment to Purdue’s Innovation Park, and creating jobs.

Board chair Michael Berghoff praised Chiang as the ideal choice to lead Purdue into its next "giant leap," citing his academic achievements, managerial acumen, and ability to build effective partnerships across academia, government, and industry.

In his statement, Chiang expressed humility and commitment to listening to the university community, emphasizing the importance of sustaining Purdue’s momentum in research excellence, student success, and public service.

Dr. Chiang’s Statement

“Being selected by the board as Purdue’s next president is the highest and most humbling honor; it is a privilege to serve an institution that has contributed immeasurably to our nation and humanity over the past 153 years.”

“Under President Daniels, Purdue has become the nation’s most important public university, achieving record enrollment, top‑tier research, and financial resilience. I am humbled by the task of ensuring this momentum continues into the next great leap.”