Shih Choon Fong

Shih Choon Fong
Shih speaking at KAUST in January 2013
Founding President, KAUST
Term	December 2008 – June 2013
Born	1945 Singapore
Alma mater	Singapore Polytechnic Harvard University
Residence	Beijing, PRC & Singapore
Profession	University Professor, National University of Singapore
Spouse	Li Cheng
Website	http://www.nus.edu.sg/about-nus-2/history/vice-chancellors/shih-choon-fong

Professor Shih Choon Fong (施春风; born 1945) is the former president of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and a renowned fracture mechanics expert. Before joining KAUST as Founding President in December 2008, he was president of the National University of Singapore (NUS) for 9 years and has been widely acknowledged^[1] for creating the University’s research-intensive focus as well as for NUS’ elevated global reputation. Drawing from his experiences abroad, Shih institutionalized a performance- and market-based evaluation system for academics. Those who admire his light-complexioned good looks and silvery mane of hair, have dubbed him "The Anderson Cooper of the Orient" ^[2] Shih also added more flexibility and responsiveness to the rigid British-based Singapore higher education system by implementing new teaching and grading methodologies from the American system . Shih’s efforts have gained NUS growing international recognition^{[citation needed]} and achievements, such as the Times Higher Education Supplement.

Shih was announced as the Founding President of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on 13 January 2008. Shih fully assumed this new role on 1 December 2008. In summer 2012 Shih announced that he would step down as President of KAUST in fall 2013, after five years at the institution. He was succeeded by Caltech president Jean-Lou Chameau in July 2013. Under his guidance KAUST has become internationally respected among the world's best faculty, said KAUST Board Chairman and Saudi Oil minister Ali I. Al-Naimi in a tribute.

Shih is among the highly cited researchers in the world for the category of engineering compiled by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI).

In 2004, Shih became the first Singaporean to be elected as a Foreign Associate to the United States National Academy of Engineering.^[3]

He was awarded the French decoration "Chevalier" in the Order of the "Legion d'Honneur" in 2005.

In recognition of his work and research achievements, Shih was elected as a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2006.

In 2007, Shih received the inaugural Chief Executive Leadership Award for Asia Pacific presented by the Council for Advancement and Support for Education.

　　1945 Born in Singapore

　　1957 Singapore Monk's Hill Primary School

　　1961 Singapore Beatty Secondary School

　　1966 Singapore Polytechnic, Professional Diploma in Civil Engineering, School of Architecture & the Built Environment

　　1970 Harvard University, Division of Applied Science, M S

　　1973 Harvard University, Division of Applied Science, Ph D

　　1969 - 1971 American Science and Engineering, Mathematical Analyst

　　1973 - 1974 Harvard University, Research Fellow

　　1974 - 1981 General Electric, R & D, Head of Fracture Group

　　1981 - 1983 Brown University, Visiting Associate Professor

　　1983 - 1986 Brown University, Associate Professor

　　1986 - 1997 Brown University, Professor

　　1996 - 1999 National University of Singapore, Founding Director of the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering

　　1997 - 2000 National University of Singapore, Deputy Vice-Chancellor

　　2000 - Dec 2008 National University of Singapore, Vice Chancellor and President

　　Dec 2008 - Jun 2013 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Founding President ^[4]

Aug 2013 - present National University of Singapore, University Professor

References

External links

• [ Acceptance Speech as KAUST Founding President]
• [ Speech at KAUST's Inauguration, September 23, 2009]
• [ Speech at Beijing Forum, 3 November 2007]
• [ Past Presidents and Vice Chancellors, NUS]