Christie K. Chung, PhD
Incoming Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Effective January 20, 2026
Dr. Christie K. Chung will join Palo Alto University as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on January 20, 2026. A cognitive psychologist, scholar, and award-winning higher education leader, Dr. Chung is known for connecting scientific insight with inclusive leadership and the responsible use of technology to improve human wellbeing.
Currently serving as Executive Director of The Mills Institute at Northeastern University, Dr. Chung has built transformative programming in teaching, advocacy, and research that expands access to educational and leadership opportunities. She has also held senior leadership roles as Associate Provost for Student Success and Undergraduate Education, Associate Dean for Research, Scholarship, and Partnerships, and Special Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Across these roles, she has led initiatives in academic innovation, experiential learning, faculty development, and external partnerships throughout Northeastern’s global network.
Dr. Chung’s research explores emotional memory, cognitive aging, and cross-cultural cognition, with an emerging emphasis on bridging cognitive science and artificial intelligence. Her work examines how the mind processes emotion and memory across cultures and the lifespan, and has been widely published and presented internationally. Her TEDx keynote, “Bridging Minds and Machines: Advancing AI Innovations through Cognitive Science,” underscores her vision for responsible innovation that centers humanity.
An active scholar and mentor, Dr. Chung directs the Mills Cognition Lab, serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Integrated Social Sciences, and contributes to advisory boards for Mixbook and PacBay School. She also provides executive coaching and leadership development for higher education professionals through Academic Impressions, supporting leaders across the sector in achieving sustainable, inclusive change.
Dr. Chung has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the field with numerous honors, including being named a KRON4 TV Remarkable Woman (2025) and an American Conference of Academic Deans (ACAD) Fellow (2022). Her research and commentary have been featured in The Boston Globe and other national media outlets.
Dr. Chung earned her Honours B.Sc. in Psychology (Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Toronto, followed by her M.A. and Ph.D. in Applied Cognitive Psychology from Claremont Graduate University, and completed postdoctoral training in Behavioral Neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
When she joins Palo Alto University in 2026, Dr. Chung will lead the university’s academic mission and partner across divisions to advance excellence in teaching, learning, and research. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and inclusion, reflecting PAU’s commitment to human understanding and the preparation of compassionate, confident professionals who make a difference in the world.
Residing in the Bay Area, Dr. Chung enjoys exploring fun shows and museums, baking and experimenting with new recipes, traveling and learning about different cultures.
New Book: Inspire to Lead
TEDx keynote: Bridging Minds and Machines