‘Vigil’ by acclaimed author George Saunders kicks off the new Campus Reading Program
May 13, 2026
Hours after Mung Chiang was announced as Northwestern’s 18th president, he was out and about on campus, visiting with students, faculty, staff and University partners.
Northwestern photographers accompanied President-elect Chiang at each stop of his campus tour. These are a few of our favorite shots from the day.
He stopped first at Allison Hall to have lunch and talk with students, taking selfies and eating ice cream. Then he visited a lacrosse practice at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium as the team prepared for the Final Four this weekend. Later he visited the lab of chemistry professor Ted Sargent to learn about the team’s work there before taking in a symphony orchestra rehearsal at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.
Wrapping up a busy day, Chiang made one final stop, on the Chicago campus, to meet with Dr. Howard Chrisman, president and CEO of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and University trustee, where he spoke with faculty and staff.
“My first priority is to listen to and learn about Northwestern’s distinct culture and this community of scholarly and creative minds, because what matters most is the ‘who’ before the ‘what,’” Chiang said in introducing himself to the University community.
“I plan to engage with as many members of our community as possible: students and parents, faculty and staff, alumni and donors, neighbors and partners, as well as all the trustees. I will come to every one of the 12 colleges and schools, cheer every one of our 21 sports teams, visit our clinical partners at Northwestern Medicine and beyond, and participate in every cherished campus tradition.”
Learn more about Mung Chiang by visiting the University’s president-elect website.
