In October of 1991, the National Dong Hwa University Planning Office was established in Hualien by the Ministry of Education as part of its mission to foster the balanced regional development of Taiwan through the even distribution of higher education systems in the north, south, east, and west of the island. Dr. Paul Tzung-Tsan Mu was appointed to head the Office and led the development of plans for eastern Taiwan's first comprehensive university. On July 1, 1994, National Dong Hwa University was formally inaugurated with Dr. Mu serving as its founding President. After seven years of vigorous and unflagging commitment, Dr. Mu resigned from his administrative duties at the University in the summer of 2001. On January 23, 2002, Dr. Wen-shu Hwang, who had shared Dr. Mu's mission of transforming a series of humble sugarcane fields into a world-class university since the very beginning, was elected to serve as Dr. Mu's successor. Under Dr. Hwang's innovative leadership, the University has continued to strive for excellent teaching, research and community outreach.