Xie Heping, a specialist in engineering mechanics, was born in Shuangfeng, Hunan Province in 1956. He graduated from the China University of Mining and Technology in 1982 and received his Ph. D. degree from the China University of Mining and Technology in 1987, where he became a professor in 1990. He was approved as doctoral candidate supervisor by the Academic Degree Committee of State Council. In 2001 he was elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He serves as the president of Sichuan University, as member of the Subject Evaluation Team of the Academic Degree Committee of State Council, as vice president of the Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering and as vice president of the China Coal Society.