NEWS
NORMAN, Okla. – Zhenghong Tang, Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability in the University of Oklahoma’s College of Geographic and Atmospheric Sciences (AGS). He began the role on Aug 1.
A leader in the field of planning, Tang will oversee the department and its mission of creating a community of interdisciplinary scholars and experts who aim to better understand the Earth’s human-natural systems. He is also joining as a professor within the department.
Throughout his career, he has worked to strengthen local capacity to allow for greater community resilience and sustainable development. His research, which has focused on environmental monitoring and assessment, hazard mitigation and geospatial technologies, has received funding support from agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Department of Housing and Urban Development and Environmental Protection Agency.
“As chair of the search committee, I had the opportunity to work with an outstanding pool of candidates from across the country,” said AGS Dean Bob Palmer. “Dr. Tang distinguished himself through his collaborative leadership style, research excellence and unwavering commitment to student success. We are delighted that he has joined the University of Oklahoma, and I am confident he will provide exceptional leadership.”
Prior to joining OU, Tang spent 18 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He most recently served as associate dean for research and innovation in the College of Architecture. In this role, he fostered a creative and collaborative culture at the college and supported faculty members.
He also taught as a professor, and led as the director from 2020 to 2024, in the university’s Community and Regional Planning Program. In addition, Tang held multiple adjunct academic positions at Nebraska, including as a professor in the Landscape Architecture Program, faculty fellow for the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and fellow for the Center for Great Plains Studies.
Tang has received numerous awards and honors recognizing his impact in areas such as research and service. He is a 2026 recipient of the Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association’s Professional Award, which honors career excellence and professional services.
In consecutive years, he received the President’s Award from the Nebraska Chapter of the American Planning Association in 2025 as an individual, and in 2026 as part of the team. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the communities in Nebraska.
His research products have been widely used by federal, state, tribal, regional and local agencies to strengthen their capacity for effective environmental monitoring, assessment and resilience planning. His research received the prestigious Chester Rapkin Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), demonstrating its national recognition and impact.
“It is my honor to serve this outstanding department by further advancing education, research and service in the fields of geography and environmental sustainability, and to serve its students, staff, faculty and stakeholders in Oklahoma and beyond,” Tang said.
Tang obtained his bachelor’s degree from Hunan Normal University and his master’s degree from Huazhong Agricultural University, both in China. He earned his Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science at Texas A&M University.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Zhenghong Tang, Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability in the University of Oklahoma’s College of Geographic and Atmospheric Sciences. A leader in the field of planning, Tang will oversee the department and its mission of creating a community of interdisciplinary scholars and experts who aim to better understand the Earth’s human-natural systems.
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