While most students won’t see President Mung Chiang in his new role until Fall Quarter, he officially began Wednesday with a campus tour, visiting the men’s and women’s basketball teams and a lunch hosted by Northwestern Facilities.
Chiang said he is using the summer to prepare for his role by listening to stakeholders across campus, from students and faculty to alumni. He said he hopes to better understand their perspectives leading up to — and during — the academic year.
“I’m doing my homework, just don’t give me a test yet because I’m still in orientation,” Chiang told The Daily. “I want to walk around the Chicago and Evanston campus and randomly run into people, not just scheduled conversations. I want to get their perspective. What do they think about Northwestern, and how can I be of help and of service to them?”
Chiang, who previously served as president of Purdue University, was named NU’s president-elect in May, succeeding former NU President Michael Schill, who resigned in September. Former NU President Henry Bienen served as interim president through June. Before leading Purdue, Chiang worked at Princeton University.
He had lunch with the facilities team on his first day after intentionally asking to meet with the department.
“They really are the unsung heroes,” Chiang told The Daily. “They work day and night to keep this campus safe and beautiful and functioning.”
Angel Dizon III, NU’s senior associate vice president of facilities, said he was surprised Chiang specifically requested to meet with the department and its staff.
Dizon said he believed the gesture reflected Chiang’s appreciation for the facilities team’s contributions to campus and left him feeling optimistic about working with the University’s new president.
“He understands that a complex university is run by a whole lot of folks, and the success of this university is built on the hard work of a lot of different kinds of people,” Dizon said. “I just appreciated his thoughtfulness about, as he said, what it takes to make this place run well.”
In a speech given to facilities staff and administrators during the lunch, Chiang acknowledged the experience of staff members and their efforts to keep campus running through both extreme heat and cold. He called them “magicians,” adding their work is critical to advancing NU’s mission.
Attendee and NU electrician Joshua Emanuel said he appreciated Chiang’s decision to meet with facilities staff, even after hot weather forced the event indoors.
Emanuel said Chiang’s remarks established “a line of communication” between workers like him and the University president. He added that Chiang seemed open to hearing suggestions, calling his Wednesday speech “welcoming.”
“It just shows a lot about his character,” Emanuel said. “For him, the first time he touched down in Evanston, he wanted to come meet with the people who take care of the daily tasks to keep it, like he said in his own speech, keep Northwestern a safe and beautiful space.”
Chiang said he hopes to help put a face to his name for students and other community members who do not know much about University administration.
He said increasing his visibility is important to building connections with members of the NU community.
“This is a common situation across many major universities in the country,” Chiang told The Daily. “I want to help, along with a great team, demystify University administration to our students and to our staff and faculty colleagues as well. And we start by going to where you are.”
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