Chinese academic takes senior post at Harvard

A Chinese academic was appointed dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard on Aug 15, becoming the first Chinese to hold such a senior position at the prestigious university.

"Harvard has been a dream school for generations of students around the world. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences made my dream come true by providing me with full financial support when I was literally a village boy from the other side of the globe," Meng Xiaoli told the university newspaper Harvard Gazette. He said he wants to make the same education possible for others.

Meng is also the Whipple V.N. Jones professor of economics and chair of the Department of Statistics.