Michael K. Young

Michael K. Young is an American legal scholar, academic administrator, and former diplomat recognized for his leadership of major research universities and expertise in international law and Asia-United States relations. His career spans significant roles in higher education, public service with the U.S. Department of State, and contributions to legal scholarship. He has served as president of both the University of Washington and Texas A&M University, guiding their academic, research, and global engagement missions.

Early life and education

Young was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and completed his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, where he graduated with high honors. He then pursued a Juris Doctor degree at Harvard Law School, serving as an editor for the prestigious Harvard Law Review during his time there. His academic focus began to center on comparative law and the legal systems of East Asia, interests that would define much of his subsequent career. Following law school, he clerked for a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Academic career

Young began his academic career as a professor of law at Columbia Law School, where he taught courses in Japanese law, international trade, and conflict of laws. He later served as dean of George Washington University Law School, significantly raising its national profile. His scholarly work has been published in numerous journals, including the Columbia Law Review and the Harvard International Law Journal, often analyzing legal developments in Japan and Korea. He also held the T. M. C. Asser visiting professorship in the Netherlands and has been a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

University leadership

In 2004, Young was appointed president of the University of Utah, where he oversaw growth in research funding and campus infrastructure. He became president of the University of Washington in 2011, leading initiatives in global health, computer science, and environmental science. In 2015, he assumed the presidency of Texas A&M University, one of the largest universities in the United States, where he focused on enhancing student success, expanding the university system's research enterprise, and strengthening partnerships with agencies like NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy. He retired from this role in 2020.

Public service and legal career

Beyond academia, Young has held several prominent government positions. He served as deputy Under Secretary of State for economic and agricultural affairs during the George H. W. Bush administration. He was also the U.S. Chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and a member of the U.S. Trade Representative's advisory committee. His legal practice included work with the Washington, D.C. firm Covington & Burling, and he has served as an arbitrator for the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Young has received numerous recognitions, including the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, from the Government of Japan for fostering academic exchange. He has been awarded honorary doctorates from institutions such as Seoul National University and Korea University. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Council on Foreign Relations, and his service was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Brigham Young University.

Category:American university presidents Category:American legal scholars Category:Harvard Law School alumni