Lingnan University appoints Professor Leonard Cheng as new President

At its meeting held today, the Council of Lingnan University approved the recommendation of its Search Committee to appoint Professor Leonard Cheng as its new President for a period of five years.

At the Council meeting earlier today, the appointment was made in due consideration of the views and comments received from students, staff and alumni of the University at the meeting with Professor Cheng, and in consultation with the Court. Council Chairman the Hon Bernard Charnwut Chan thanked members of the Search Committee for their effort and said that “the Council is very pleased to have such a strong candidate both in terms of academic standing, research achievements, leadership in higher education and management experience to lead Lingnan to forge ahead.”

Before the Council meeting, Mr Bernard Chan, Deputy Chairman Mr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen and Treasurer Mrs Loretta Shuen Leung Lai-sheung met with more than 300 students, staff members and alumni to listen to their views about the appointment of the new president. First of all, Mr Bernard Chan addressed questions on student involvement in the search exercise, indicative criteria for the appointment of the new president and the search process. As part of the search process, Professor Cheng also attended the meeting to exchange views, share his aspirations and explore the strategic development of the University with the stakeholders. The Council, after taking into consideration the views expressed by various parties at the meeting as well as those of the members of the Court, decided to appoint Professor Cheng as President.


About Professor Leonard Cheng
Professor Cheng graduated with a first-class honours degree in economics from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1975, and obtained a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of California (Berkeley). After teaching at the University of Florida, he joined the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1992, where he has served as Head of Economics and Director of PhD and MBA programmes. He is now Dean of the School of Business and Management and Chair Professor of Economics.

Please refer to Attachment 1 for a fact sheet on the selection process.