Chung-Weun Hou, also known as Charles Hou, received his MA in Sociology from Texas Christian University in 1980. He then moved to Ohio and entered Bowling Green State University to pursue his doctorate degree. He comfortably and immediately adapted to the environment of the sociology department at the said university. There he witnessed how the faculty members dedicated themselves to ennobling the operative ethos. Chung-Weun underwent the tutelage of Professor Steven Cernkovich, who was then the Director of the graduate school of the Department of Sociology, as his dissertation mentor. Dr. Cernkovich's professional interests involved the social control theory of understanding the importance of good communication, family relationships, and the civic problem of delinquency. With the aid of his adviser, Dr. Hou completed an extensive research on crime and deviance in Taiwan and he acquired his doctorate degree in 1984.

Charles promptly returned to his country upon graduation and started his teaching career in the Department of Sociology at National Chung Hsing University. In 1990, he was appointed as the Director for the Continuing Education Center. He continually held this position as the Taipei Campus of National Chung Hsing University became an independent entity in February of 2000 and was renamed National Taipei University. In 2002, Dr. Hou became the Dean of Academic Affairs. During which time, he ushered in an excellent number of qualified students and was commended for his laudable performance in elevating the University’s reputation. On September 1, 2004, he assumed his responsibilities as National Taipei University’s President.

Dr. Hou is a life member of the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. And he was honored as a Fulbright scholar in 1992.

With his zealous dedication to alleviating the problems of crime and social order in Taiwan, Dr. Hou is a very active member of the Center for the Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, the Taipei City Police Gangsters Case Review Committee, and the Organized Crime Committee of the Taipei City Police Bureau.

Dr. Hou is married to Dr. Lin Lin Cheng, who graduated from the University of Minnesota and who is currently a professor of Psychology at NTPU. They are the parents of Samuel Hou.