William & Mary Fergusson Professor of Mathematics Chi-Kwong Li was recently honored with two internationally acclaimed awards for his exceptional contributions to mathematics.
He received the 2025 Hans Schneider Prize in Linear Algebra from the International Linear Algebra Society (ILAS) and the 2025 Béla Szőkefalvi-Nagy Medal from the Bolyai Institute of the University of Szeged, Hungary. These awards are a testament to the caliber of Li’s research accomplishments and his exceptional mentorship of students, which exemplifies W&M’s commitment to close faculty-student interactions.
“Professor Li has been one of our most enthusiastic and prolific faculty members and these awards recognize his impressive body of work,” said Math Department Chair and Professor Sarah Day. “We are fortunate to have him serving in our department and training the next generation of researchers and professionals.”
Linear algebra is a foundational branch of mathematics underlying many scientific disciplines and technologies. Research advances in this field have broken new ground in computing, artificial intelligence, data science, engineering, economics and beyond.
“I am honored to receive these awards,” said Li. “Inspired by my advisor, I find joy in developing theories and solving complex problems. I am passionate about research because it involves collaborating with diverse teams to bridge theory and application. I also love bringing these insights into the classroom to show students the real-world impact of mathematics. It is wonderful to be recognized for work I truly love.”
Hans Schneider Prize in Linear Algebra
ILAS is a global organization of professionals interested in linear algebra and its applications. The Hans Schneider Prize in Linear Algebra is the highest award the organization bestows, recognizing a lifetime of outstanding achievement in the field. Li was granted this award “for his substantial contributions to several areas of linear algebra, including matrix analysis, operator theory, quantum information theory and combinatorial matrix theory,” ILAS announced.
Li is one of just 22 people worldwide to receive this award since its creation in 1993 and one of two people in 2025. He is the first recipient among the faculty of William & Mary. The award is given out every three years.
Béla Szőkefalvi-Nagy Medal
The Béla Szőkefalvi-Nagy Medal is given annually by the Bolyai Institute to “honor a distinguished mathematician who has published significant, deep results” in the highly regarded journal Acta Scientiarum Mathematicarum, according to an announcement from the Bolyai Institute of the University of Szeged. The award also lauded Li’s significant involvement with students. He’s worked with more than 50 undergraduates on projects that have generated more than 35 joint research papers.
This commitment to student teaching and mentorship was echoed by Day.
“Chi-Kwong has an uncanny ability to formulate concrete questions that are both inspired by much larger, challenging problems and are accessible to students and non-specialists,” said Day. “His enthusiasm is contagious and he’s an excellent teacher and research advisor.”
A career of scholarly leadership and global impact
A world-renowned figure in mathematics, Li has an impressive track record of professional accomplishments. He is the author of more than 370 refereed articles that have been cited more than 4,100 times, according to MathSciNet, and more than 9,100 times in the Google Scholar database. His research has received support from the National Science Foundation, NATO, the Simons Foundation and the American Mathematical Society.
Li has served on the editorial boards of multiple high-profile journals. Most notably, he led Linear and Multilinear Algebra, one of the field’s premier research journals, as editor-in-chief for an incredible 16 years, from 2006 to 2022. He has also been a member of ILAS leadership since 1993 and served as its vice president.
His 2025 awards add to a long list of past recognition as a distinguished scholar and teacher. Li was named a Plumeri Fellow by William & Mary in 2009, received the Simon Prize for Teaching in the W&M Department of Mathematics in 2008 and the Virginia State Council of Higher Education Outstanding Faculty Award in 2004. He is also a two-time recipient of the Fulbright Scholar award.
Li joined the mathematics department at William & Mary in 1988 and has held several leadership positions. He served as department chair from 2002 to 2007 and as interim chair from 2020 to 2021. Most recently, he was awarded the title of Ferguson Professor of Mathematics.
“Professor Li has an exceptional ability to identify the right problems to pursue, even in areas outside his primary research focus,” said Junping Shi, former chair of the mathematics department. “As a master of matrix and operator theory, he consistently draws on a deep and versatile technical toolkit to develop elegant and effective solutions.”
Catherine Tyson, Communications Specialist