Purdue University president to step down

Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:55 AM

President Mung Chiang-Courtesy Purdue University

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Board of Trustees announced that President Mung Chiang has informed them that he has accepted an offer to become president of Northwestern University.

“It has been an incredible honor and joy for me to work with the amazing board, colleagues, students and alumni here,” Chiang said. “There truly is something special at Purdue: not just the projects and programs, but also the people, who time after time set the standard for excellence at scale.”

Trustees Chair Gary Lehman said the board will name an interim president in the coming weeks and initiate a search for a permanent president shortly thereafter.

Mung Chiang will assume his new role as president of Northwestern University on July 1.

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