Professor Zhang Donggang, born in 1965, holds a PhD in Economics and is a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He currently serves as the Secretary of the CPC Committee of Renmin University of China (RUC). Prior to assuming his position at RUC, Professor Zhang served successively as the Director of the Department of Social Sciences, the Director of the Department of Moral Education, and the Director of the Department of Personnel of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. 

His main research interests include modern Chinese economic history, comparative studies of Chinese and foreign economic development, and civilization studies. He has presided over multiple projects of the National Social Science Fund of China. Professor Zhang has authored three academic monographs and co-authored more than forty scholarly books, and has published more than 100 academic articles in leading journals, including Social Sciences in China, Historical Research, People's Daily, and Guangming Daily. His research achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 4th Award for Young Teachers in Universities and Colleges, the 8th Fok Ying-tung Education Foundation Award for Young Teachers in Universities and Colleges, the Baosteel Education Foundation Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation, the Top Honor of the 4th National Book Award. In 2021, he was honored with the title of Outstanding CPC Member of the Bodies of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Government.