Dr. Ming Li
Prior to becoming dean of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) in 2013, Dr. Ming Li served as interim executive director of the Center for International Studies at Ohio University, serving as that university’s senior international officer. He also filled a wide range of other administrative posts at the university. He was the inaugural chair of the Department of Sports Administration in the College of Business for two years, acting associate dean for academic affairs for the College of Health and Human Services for a year, director of the School of Recreation and Sport Sciences for eight years, from 2002 to 2010, and director of the master’s program in athletic administration in the School of Recreation and Sport Sciences from 2003 to 2010. In addition to his Ohio University posts, Li also taught at Georgia Southern University for 11 years and was coordinator of that university’s sport management program.
Li received his bachelor’s degree in education from Guangzhou Institute of Physical Culture and his master’s degree in education from Hangzhou University, both in China. He received his Doctor of Education from the University of Kansas in physical education, sport administration. He has served as president of the Alliance for Sport Business, chair of the Board of Commissioners of the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation and president of the North American Society for Sport Management.
Li has also served on the editorial boards of several professional journals, including the Journal of Sport Management and Sport Marketing Quarterly. He served as a consultant to several institutions in program evaluation and development in sport management. In 1996, he worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as an Olympic Envoy. In 2011, he worked as a consultant for the sports department of the Organizing Committee for the Asian Games.
Li has published more than 30 articles in refereed journals, numerous book chapters, and four books, International Sport Management, Economics of Sport, Research Methods in Sport Management, and Badminton Everyone. He was the recipient of the 2014 Garth Paton Distinguished Service Award bestowed by the North American Society for Sport Management.
“I have been so privileged for having the opportunity to work with you all for the past nine years. Thank you for your patience and support that allowed me to grow in my role. Together, we accomplished a lot,” Li wrote in his email.
Under Li’s leadership from 2013-22, the college acquired more than $52 million in external funding, significantly contributed to the enrollment of WMU, developed the college’s first ever strategic plan, strengthened the college’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, expanded international student enrollment, buoyed the reputation of the college and implemented several innovative programs.
“Dean Ming Li has been a transformative leader of the College of Education and Human Development at WMU. Under his leadership the College has consistently been ranked among the nation’s best schools, generated more external grant support than all but a handful of schools in the country and produced some of the finest most diverse teachers, educational leaders and human development professionals in the state. His legacy won’t be measured, however, by rankings, dollars or awards but rather by how he changed lives both at WMU and in our community. His generosity of spirit, compassion and commitment to his colleagues and our youth set him apart. I cannot thank him enough for all he has given our community,” says WMU President Edward Montgomery.
