Wang Fan-sen ; born 25 October 1958) is a Taiwanese historian who is the current president of the Taiwan Comprehensive University System since 2022. He formerly served as acting president of

Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, ; zh, t=中央研究院) is the national academy of the Taiwan, Republic of China. It is headquartered in Nangang District, Taipei, Nangang, Taipei. Founded in Nanjing, the academy supports research activities in mathemat ...

in 2016, after the resignation of Chi-Huey Wong.

Career

Wang earned his bachelor's and master's degree from

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

in 1980 and 1983, respectively. He began working for the (IHP) at

as an assistant research fellow in 1985, then completed a doctorate within

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...

's Department of East Asian Studies in 1992. Upon his return to the IHP in 1993, he was promoted to associate researcher until 1998, when he became full researcher. In 2005, Wang was appointed a distinguished research fellow. Wang served as IHP director from 2003 to 2009. Academia Sinica president Chi-Huey Wong named Wang a vice president of the Academia Sinica on 1 January 2010. On 1 June of the same year, Wang succeeded Liu Ts'ui-jung as head of the Taiwan e-learning and Digital Archives Program. In April 2016, several weeks before

President of the Republic of China The president of the Republic of China, also known as the president of Taiwan, is the head of state of the Taiwan, Republic of China (Taiwan), as well as the commander-in-chief of the Republic of China Armed Forces. Republic of China (1912– ...

Ma Ying-jeou Ma Ying-jeou ( zh, t=馬英九; pinyin: ''Mǎ Yīngjiǔ''; ; born 13 July 1950) is a Taiwanese politician, lawyer, and legal scholar who served as the sixth president of the Republic of China from 2008 to 2016. A member of the Kuomintang (KMT ...

was to complete his second consecutive term, Wang announced that the Academia Sinica had settled on three candidates for its next leader. After the resignation of Chi-Huey Wong as head of Academia Sinica in May 2016, Ma appointed Wang Fan-sen the acting leader. Eventually, it was decided that Ma's successor

Tsai Ing-wen Tsai Ing-wen (; pinyin: ''Cài Yīngwén''; born 31 August 1956) is a Taiwanese politician and legal scholar who served as the seventh president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2016 to 2024. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party ...

would select the Academia Sinica leader after she had taken office. After Tsai named James C. Liao to the Academia Sinica's highest-ranking position, Wang's acting tenure came to an end. In November 2017, Wang was one of eight candidates considered for the position of

president. While the

Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

considered the presidential selection process flawed and originally refused

Kuan Chung-ming Kuan Chung-ming (; born 15 August 1956) is a Taiwanese economist and econometrician. He was the last minister of the Council for Economic Planning and Development from 2013 to 2014 and served as the first minister of the succeeding government age ...

's selection, Wang stated that he would not be running in another election. Kuan was eventually permitted to take up the NTU presidency in January 2019.

Honors and awards

Wang was elected to membership of the

in 2004, and became a fellow of the

Royal Historical Society The Royal Historical Society (RHS), founded in 1868, is a learned society of the United Kingdom which advances scholarly studies of history. Origins The society was founded and received its royal charter in 1868. Until 1872 it was known as the H ...

the following year. In 2023, Wang won a

Humboldt Research Award The Humboldt Research Award (), also known informally as the Humboldt Prize, is an award given by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany to internationally renowned scientists and scholars who work outside of Germany in recognition of t ...

Selected publications

*Reviews of ''

Fu Ssu-nien Fu Ssu-nien (; 26 March 1896 – 20 December 1950) was a Chinese historian, linguist, and writer. He was one of the leaders of the May Fourth Movement in 1919. He was also one of the creators of the Academia Sinica, and was named director of the ...

: A Life in Chinese History and Politics'' include: * * * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Fan-sen 1958 births Living people Taiwanese expatriates in the United States Princeton University faculty National Taiwan University alumni Members of Academia Sinica 20th-century Taiwanese historians Fellows of the Royal Historical Society Humboldt Research Award recipients Taiwanese male writers 21st-century Taiwanese historians Taiwanese biographers