Zhihang Ruan

Zhihang Ruan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Hunter College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. His academic work focuses on comparative political economy, international development, labor politics, and land institutions, with regional expertise in China and Vietnam.

• Ph.D. & M.S., Northwestern University (2023)
• M.P.S., The Pennsylvania State University (2015)
• M.A., Sun Yat-sen University (2014)
• B.A., China Agricultural University (2012)

His research explores how institutional structures shape social welfare outcomes, particularly for marginalized populations like migrant workers. He has conducted over 18 months of fieldwork in China and Vietnam during and before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Ruan’s work has been published in The China Quarterly, and he has received recognition such as the APSA Best Dissertation Award and fellowships from SEAREG and the Vietnam Studies Group of the AAS.

• Best Dissertation Award, American Political Science Association (APSA)
• Southeast Asia Research Group (SEAREG) Fellow
• Vietnam Studies Group of the Association of Asian Studies awardee