Mung Chiang named next president of Northwestern

[Anonymous]

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/05/mung-chiang-named-next-president-of-northwestern
My take is that NU wants a president who can push STEM, engineering, AI, research commercialization, and institutional growth. That makes a lot of sense for Northwestern’s current position. Chiang is perfect for this role with a strong engineering, technology, and research profile.

[Anonymous]

Northwestern lacks programs and majors that are “standouts.” Hopefully this new president can help.

[Anonymous]

Chiang is the former president of Purdue. In selecting Chiang, the Board of Trustees at Purdue bypassed the open search process and the whole selection lacked transparency. Same with this recent selection by Northwestern.

At Purdue, Chiang declined to act against an administrator who mocked Asian languages at a graduation ceremony, refused to take any stances on social or political issues, weakened tenure and diversity policies, declined to meet directly with students, and did not respond quickly to public record requests.

Definitely a very safe, conservative choice for Northwestern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chiang is the former president of Purdue. In selecting Chiang, the Board of Trustees at Purdue bypassed the open search process and the whole selection lacked transparency. Same with this recent selection by Northwestern.

At Purdue, Chiang declined to act against an administrator who mocked Asian languages at a graduation ceremony, refused to take any stances on social or political issues, weakened tenure and diversity policies, declined to meet directly with students, and did not respond quickly to public record requests.

Definitely a very safe, conservative choice for Northwestern.

Chiang is not controversial. But this signals a shift. Colleges are moving away from performative figures, but looking for substantive leaders with real credibility.

[Anonymous]

He’s a Chinese national.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

Stop being a racist. He’s a naturalized US citizen.
And what’s wrong with being a Chinese national even if it’s true? They’re much smarter than you dumb sh*t. Suck it up, loser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

He is actually from Hong Kong. They tend to be pretty anti-China (or more specifically, anti-Chinese communist government) behind closed doors, similar to how a Taiwanese national would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

He is actually from Hong Kong. They tend to be pretty anti-China (or more specifically, anti-Chinese communist government) behind closed doors, similar to how a Taiwanese national would be.

No. Born in Tianjin, China, which is the mainland. But so what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

MAGA can’t take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

I wrote this comment; it appears I accidentally deleted part of it before posting.

I was going to say, I thought Northwestern was embracing Trump/MAGA with the $75M settlement, so this seems like a turn of events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

He is actually from Hong Kong. They tend to be pretty anti-China (or more specifically, anti-Chinese communist government) behind closed doors, similar to how a Taiwanese national would be.

No. Born in Tianjin, China, which is the mainland. But so what?

His family immigrated from China to Hong Kong. Literally everyone in Hong Kong (or their ancestors) was once an immigrant from China; many are political exiles who chose to leave China because they disagree with the communists. Learn your Chinese history if you decide to comment on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

He is actually from Hong Kong. They tend to be pretty anti-China (or more specifically, anti-Chinese communist government) behind closed doors, similar to how a Taiwanese national would be.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s a Chinese national.

MAGA can’t take it.

He had a position under Pompeo back in Trump’s first term. But I think he’s likely anti-CCP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chiang is the former president of Purdue. In selecting Chiang, the Board of Trustees at Purdue bypassed the open search process and the whole selection lacked transparency. Same with this recent selection by Northwestern.

At Purdue, Chiang declined to act against an administrator who mocked Asian languages at a graduation ceremony, refused to take any stances on social or political issues, weakened tenure and diversity policies, declined to meet directly with students, and did not respond quickly to public record requests.

Definitely a very safe, conservative choice for Northwestern.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chiang is the former president of Purdue. In selecting Chiang, the Board of Trustees at Purdue bypassed the open search process and the whole selection lacked transparency. Same with this recent selection by Northwestern.

At Purdue, Chiang declined to act against an administrator who mocked Asian languages at a graduation ceremony, refused to take any stances on social or political issues, weakened tenure and diversity policies, declined to meet directly with students, and did not respond quickly to public record requests.

Definitely a very safe, conservative choice for Northwestern.

Lots of complaining about him/Purdue on rejecting/rescinding offer of many graduate students from China. Now it's NW turn I guess.