Li, Mengxue

Bio

Dr. Mengxue Li is the Director of International Affairs and a Principal Faculty Specialist with the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Li is a researcher in the areas of Earth and Environment Sciences, Data Policy, GIS and Remote Sensing Technology Application and International Collaboration. His teaching expertise includes Management in Cross-Cultural Organization; Leadership, Project and Program Management; Operation and Production Management; Earth Science; Geomechanics and Structural Geology.

From 2014 to 2023, Dr. Li served as Principal Dean for International Affairs of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) and as Director of the BSOS Office of International and Executive Programs from 2013 to 2023. In these roles, he advised BSOS departments, centers and units on international activities and helped them launch new initiatives in areas of importance to the college. 

From 2012 to 2017, Dr. Li served as Executive Director of the Joint Center on Global Change and Earth System Science of the University of Maryland and Beijing Normal University.

In 2008, Dr. Li was appointed by the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization—an international governmental organization for space sciences and technology applications research—as Chair of its experts committee and Director of its educational and research departments.

In 2004, Dr. Li was selected to work as Secretary-General of the Secretariat for the Committee on Earth Observation Satellite (CEOS), a non-governmental international organization with mission to ensure international coordination of civil space-based Earth observation programs and data exchange for securing a prosperous and sustainable future.

From 2003 to 2007, he also acted as Secretary-General of China’s Secretariat for the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) at the National Remote Sensing Centre of China (NRSCC). At the same time, Dr. Li also served as a full Professor and the Executive Director of the National Experts Team on Earth Observation Technology Application at NRSCC.

Before 2003, he served as full professor and chair of the Department of Business Administration at the School of Economics and Management at China University of Geosciences.

Among his many awards and honors, Dr. Li is the recipient of the 2023 Life Member of the International Society for Digital Earth, the 2016 BSOS Excellence in Service Award; the 2014 BSOS Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service; and is a 2013 Honorary member of the International Society for Digital Earth.