KyuJung Whang
Photo courtesy of Cornell University
KyuJung Whang, vice president of infrastructure, properties and planning at Cornell University, has been named Princeton University's next vice president for facilities. Whang, who has 35 years of experience in facilities management, campus planning and architecture, will start at Princeton on Jan. 23.
As vice president for facilities, Whang will lead the departments responsible for the planning, development, operation and maintenance of Princeton's campus. He will oversee the day-to-day management and strategic development of the University's buildings and lands, including the University's forthcoming 2026 Campus Plan, real estate functions and commitments to sustainability.
"KyuJung Whang is a nationally recognized leader who brings to this campus an exceptional record of professional achievement, a thorough understanding of academic values and a deep commitment to sustainability," President Christopher L. Eisgruber said. "We are fortunate that he has chosen to come to Princeton."
Whang will serve as a member of the president's cabinet and will report to Executive Vice President Treby Williams.
"Kyu will be an extraordinary vice president for facilities," Williams said. "He has dedicated his career to developing and stewarding university campuses to advance teaching, research and innovation. As a seasoned university facilities leader, Kyu's visionary leadership, transparent management style and application of broad domain expertise have been characterized by a commitment to advancing university values and mission. I am absolutely thrilled that Kyu will be joining Princeton."
Whang said he is looking forward to joining the Princeton community with great enthusiasm.
"The Princeton University campus is known to be one of the most beautiful and iconic college campuses in the world," Whang said. "President Eisgruber and Executive Vice President Williams have entrusted me with the incredible opportunity and responsibility to steward our campus into the next decade and beyond."
Whang has led Cornell's Division of Infrastructure, Properties and Planning since 2006. He oversees planning, design, construction, maintenance, real estate, energy management, sustainability, transportation and mail services for Cornell's campus. He leads more than 1,000 employees, and is responsible for more than 15 million square feet of building space over 2,000 acres.
He also has served in a number of strategic advisory roles at Cornell, including as a member of the president's senior leadership team. Whang worked on various committees involving faculty, staff, students and the local community, including co-chairing Cornell's Senior Leaders Climate Action Group and the President's Sustainable Campus Committee.
Before he joined Cornell, Whang spent 17 years at Rutgers University in facilities management and capital planning. He was vice president of the department and previously served as assistant vice president, university architect and other positions. In his leadership role at Rutgers, Whang was responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the university's buildings and infrastructures throughout New Jersey.
At Princeton, Whang will oversee more than 700 staff members in the following departments: Grounds and Building Maintenance; Engineering and Campus Energy; Facilities Finance and Administrative Services; Facilities Operations and Maintenance; the Office of Design and Construction; the Office of Real Estate Development; the Office of Sustainability; and the Office of the University Architect.
He will lead efforts to continue Princeton's strong commitment to sustainability in the design, construction and operation of the campus, and will help oversee development in the context of the next campus plan. The University is developing a comprehensive campus plan, which will outline a 10-year guide for near-term growth within a 30-year horizon of its possible evolution to establish a broad strategy for development over the next several decades.
Whang also will collaborate with University leaders on developing capital funding plans and will oversee the execution of new construction and renovation projects. He will oversee Facilities' delivery of maintenance, janitorial, grounds and other services on campus, as well as the University's property management services off campus.
"I am prepared to work with the campus community in a thoughtful, transparent and collaborative manner, while utilizing the knowledge, experience and skills I have acquired during my career in higher education," Whang said. "This is an exciting time to be coming to Princeton as we complete and adopt our 2026 Campus Plan. I am eager to share my own contributions to the plan and to see it through to its implementation."
Prior to his work in higher education, Whang was an architect at design, planning and engineering companies, including time as senior project architect at CUH2A Architects and Engineers (now part of HDR Architects and Engineering) in Princeton.
Whang is on the board of directors of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and was a founding member of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and Society for College and University Planning, among other professional organizations. He graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in architecture.
Whang succeeds Vice President for Facilities Michael McKay, who announced plans to retire at the end of this year after a nearly 40-year career at Princeton.
