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  • NAU
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  • President Rita Cheng

Rita Hartung Cheng

Professional headshot of Dr. Rita Cheng, NAU's 16th President
Photo by Andrew Collings.

Northern Arizona University’s 16th president

A first-generation and non-traditional college graduate, Dr. Cheng has been committed to making higher education accessible and affordable to all students.

Under her leadership, NAU has pursued an aggressive agenda to thrive in a fast-changing environment of higher education. She has amplified the university’s strengths and set forth a vision of excellence in education through student-centered teaching, a robust research environment, an extensive global engagement program, and inclusive support services focused on success and measured through retention and graduation rates. She has focused on enhancing diverse, market-driven programs, and has prioritized the institution’s financial sustainability.

Since 2015, NAU’s research rankings rose from No. 86 to No. 70 in the country among public universities without a medical school. NAU also ranks No. 7 nationally for its long-term study abroad programs, up from No. 17 in 2015.

Prior to NAU, Dr. Cheng served as chancellor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. While at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she held positions on the faculty and various administrative roles including provost and vice chancellor.

Dr. Cheng earned a Ph.D. in management from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, where she was recognized as one of 100 notable alumni in the school’s 100-year history. She also holds an MBA from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor’s in business administration with honors from Bishop’s University in Quebec. Committed to service, Dr. Cheng also serves on a variety of local and national boards.


Curriculum Vitae

Review and download President Cheng’s curriculum vitae.

President Rita Cheng’s CV (August 2020)

Office of the President
Location
Room 200 Building 51
Babbitt Administrative Center
1900 S. Knoles Dr.
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 4092
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Email
president@nau.edu
Phone
(928) 523-3232
Fax
(928) 523-1848
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