In 1986, he graduated from the city's Saint Sava National College, and then, in 1991, the Faculty of Land Improvements and Environmental Engineering of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMV).

[5] In 1992, he started his university career, following all the stages: preparatory (1992–1995), research assistant (1995–1997), head of works (1997–2001), lecturer (2001–2006), and professor (since 2006).

[4] He was a vice-dean of the Faculty of Land Improvement and Environmental Engineering at the USAMV (2004–2008), later, the dean (2008–2012), and then, from March 2012 to December 2014, he became the rector of the University.

[9] His appointment in the Cîțu Cabinet was criticized due to his activity in the first mandate, particularly around the legislation "that protected those found to have plagiarised their academic theses".

[16] In 2022, Cîmpeanu initiated several reforms, starting with the structure of the Romanian academic year, such as moving the first day of school to the first Monday of September and switching from two semesters to five so-called "modules",[17][18] later continuing with new education laws.

[27] Since 2012, Cîmpeanu is the corresponding member of the Romanian Academy of Technical Sciences, Corresponding member of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences "Gheorghe Ionescu Șișești" and general secretary of the National Council for the Certification of Titles, Diplomas and University Certificates, and since 2013, the president of the National Council of the Rectors of Romania.

[32] In 2002, he was honored with the "In Hoc Signo Vinces" award for his research activity by the National Council of Scientific Research in Higher Education,[33] in 2004 he received the Medal "Merit for Education" awarded by the Presidency of Romania,[34] and in 2013, he received the distinction "Personality of the Year for a European Romania", granted by the EUROLINK - The House of Europe Foundation.