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Kevin O'Brien is the Jack M. Forcey Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes in Chinese politics, particularly focusing on contentious politics, protest dynamics, and state-society relations in rural China. His research examines mechanisms of protest control, authoritarian governance, and institutional reforms. O'Brien holds a B.A. from Grinnell College (1979) and a Ph.D. from Yale University (1987). Education: B.A., Grinnell College; Ph.D., Yale University Affiliations: Institute of East Asian Studies, UC Berkeley Research interests include rightful resistance, relational repression, and adaptation strategies under autocratic regimes. He has authored/co-authored influential books such as Rightful Resistance in Rural China and edited volumes on popular protest and grassroots elections in China. Books: Reform Without Liberalization , Popular Protest in China , Grassroots Elections in China Awards include the Sage Award for Best Paper in Comparative Politics (2004). His work integrates fieldwork insights with theoretical frameworks, addressing topics like land expropriation, migrant worker rights, and NGO operational challenges in China's evolving political landscape.

• Chinese Politics
• Contentious Politics
• Protest Policing
• +5 more

Wing Chung Ng is Professor and Department Chair in the History Department at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. A cultural and social historian specializing in Chinese migration and traditional Chinese opera, he teaches courses on Chinese and Japanese history as well as the Chinese diaspora. Dr. Ng's research focuses on Modern China, East Asia, and Migration History, with particular expertise in Chinese diaspora communities and Cantonese opera preservation. His scholarly work examines how Chinese communities maintain cultural identity while adapting to new environments across the Pacific, analyzing the interplay between traditional cultural practices and modern social transformations. His publication record reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory examining Chinese cultural transmission across borders. Recent works include analyses of Kunqu opera in the 21st century and historical soundscapes of Sino-Western encounters, building on his foundational research on Cantonese opera and Chinese communities in North America. His interdisciplinary approach spans cultural history, migration studies, and Asian American studies. Dr. Ng has received significant scholarly recognition: Fulbright Scholar (2012) from the United States Department of State Faculty Research Award (2004) from the National Endowment for the Humanities National Humanities Center Fellow (1996) His research has been supported by substantial grants including $5,000 for 'Connecting Worlds: Master Wong Toa's Trans-Pacific Life and Career 1914-2015' (2020-2021) and $40,000 for 'Local Theater, Transnational Arena: A New Social History of Cantonese Opera, 1860-1945' (2004-2005). He was previously a Commonwealth Scholar at UBC and has received support from the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation and NEH. Most recently, he served as a Fulbright Scholar at Hong Kong Baptist University. Currently, Dr. Ng is working on a centennial biography of Master Wong Toa (1914-2015) to study his life and music across early 20th century South China, Cold War Hong Kong, post-exclusion era Chinatown Vancouver, multicultural Canada, and the age of China's rise.

• Chinese migration
• Traditional Chinese opera
• Modern China
• +2 more

Heping Liu is an Associate Professor of Art History at Wellesley College , specializing in Chinese painting of the Song dynasty . His research explores intersections of art, literature, environment, science, and technology during China's 10th-12th centuries. Ph.D. from Yale University Recipient of NEH and ACLS Fellowships Teaches courses on Japanese/Chinese art, poetic painting, and Song imperial painting academy Focuses on hands-on art education through museum sessions Key research themes include: Political exile in Song landscapes Imperial patronage systems Buddhist iconography adaptation Urban/rural representations Cross-cultural artistic exchange Notable publications analyze: Qingming Shanghe Tu (2011) Juecheng's Buddhist works (2007) Empress Liu's Maitreya portrait (2003) Water-mill technological symbolism (2002) Scientific recognition: National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Teaching philosophy emphasizes direct engagement with artworks through: Davis Museum resources Boston-New York institutional partnerships Object-based learning sessions Comparative East Asian studies

• Chinese Painting
• Song Dynasty Art
• East Asian Art History
• +4 more

Margaret Tillman serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Purdue University, specializing in modern Chinese history with emphasis on childhood studies, gender dynamics, and transnational educational movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. Educational Background: Ph.D. in Chinese History, University of California, Berkeley B.A. in English, University of California, Berkeley Dr. Tillman's research investigates cross-cultural contestations over identity formation and knowledge production in China. Her monograph, Raising China’s Revolutionaries , examines child welfare as a lens for modernization and nationalism. Current projects include Tested , analyzing Chinese youth responses to educational testing reforms and the transnational development of educational psychology during wartime. Her work bridges historical analysis with anthropology and gender studies to reveal how global influences shaped Chinese societal transformations. Analysis of her recent publications indicates sustained focus on childhood mobilization, gender in revolutionary contexts, missionary activities, and educational reform. These studies demonstrate interdisciplinary rigor connecting history with public health, visual culture, and transnational policy transfer, highlighting China's complex negotiation of modernity through everyday institutions like schools and family life. Scientific awards and grants include: American Council of Learned Societies Grant Taiwan Fulbright Fellowship Dr. Tillman teaches East Asian history courses and contributes to Purdue's Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts program. Her research grants indicate leadership in securing external funding for innovative historical projects examining China's integration into global systems through the lens of childhood and education.

• Modern Chinese History
• Childhood Studies
• Education History
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Richard von Glahn serves as Professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in China's social, economic, and cultural development from the 10th to 18th centuries with emphasis on pre-modern monetary systems and urban dynamics. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in History from Yale University (1983) M.A. in History from University of California, Berkeley (1977) B.A. from Connecticut College (1975) von Glahn's research investigates popular religion, urban social movements, and China's integration into global economic networks between 1000-1800. His interdisciplinary approach bridges economic structures with cultural practices, revealing how local communities navigated imperial transitions through religious institutions and marketplace dynamics. This work fundamentally reshapes understanding of China's role in early globalization. Analysis of his publications shows sustained focus on the Song-Yuan-Ming transition period, particularly urban transformation in the Yangzi Delta and monetary crises. These studies collectively demonstrate China's sophisticated financial systems and their vulnerability to global silver flows, challenging Eurocentric narratives of economic development. While specific current advising activities aren't detailed, von Glahn's editorial leadership on major collaborative projects like The Song-Yuan-Ming Transition in Chinese History indicates significant mentorship roles and sustained scholarly influence within East Asian historical studies.

• Social History of China
• Economic History of China
• Cultural History of China
• +5 more

Sarah Lee is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Baylor University's College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on religion and politics in authoritarian regimes, particularly China's treatment of Protestant churches. She holds a PhD and MA from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA from Peking University. Education : Ph.D., Political Science, UC Berkeley (2022) M.A., Political Science, UC Berkeley (2016) M.A., International Relations, Peking University (2014) B.A., Government, Dartmouth College (2010) Research Interests : Examines how authoritarian states manage religious communities, focusing on China’s selective repression of Protestant churches. Uses mixed-methodologies including fieldwork in 15 Chinese cities, interviews with pastors, and text analysis of sermons. Key themes include civil society dynamics, policy implementation, and adaptive strategies of religious groups under repression. Awards : National Science Foundation Grant (2018-2019) Global Religion Research Initiative Fellowship (2020-2021) China Scholarship Council Fellowship (2012-2014) Teaching & Service : Teaches Comparative Government and International Relations at Baylor. Previously served as a Graduate Student Instructor at UC Berkeley. Professional service includes reviewing for Politics and Religion , and organizing academic workshops.

• Religion and Politics
• Authoritarian Regimes
• State-Society Relations
• +5 more

Ziying You serves as Associate Professor and Department Chair of Chinese Studies and East Asian Studies at The College of Wooster where she teaches courses spanning Chinese language advanced literature and cultural studies including specialized topics like Anti-Asian Racism Women and Gender in China and Food and Religion in China. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Literatures from The Ohio State University (2015) an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Folklore from University of Oregon (2009) an M.A. in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature from Peking University (2005) and a B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature Education from Henan Normal University (2002). Professor You’s research bridges Chinese oral traditions contemporary folklore and public health with a focus on grassroots responses to cultural heritage preservation. Her work examines how communities navigate state-led intangible cultural heritage initiatives particularly in rural Shanxi Province where she documents flood narratives ritual practices and mythological adaptations. She actively explores intersections between digital media ethnographic filmmaking and folk performance while addressing gender dynamics through Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies frameworks. Recent scholarship analyzes memorialization practices during the COVID-19 pandemic examining virtual tributes to Dr. Li Wenliang and community resilience among Chinese immigrant groups. Her publication trends reveal consistent engagement with contested cultural narratives shifting from classical myth analysis (e.g. Yao and Shun stories) toward urgent contemporary issues including pandemic responses online activism and heritage politics. This evolution demonstrates her commitment to applying folklore methodologies to rapidly changing social landscapes while maintaining deep roots in Chinese ethnographic traditions. College Citizen Award The College of Wooster (2022) Faculty Connection of the Year Division of Student Affairs (2018-2019) Tien-Yi Li Award for Outstanding Academic Performance The Ohio State University (2014) Dan Crowley Memorial Student Essay Prize American Folklore Society (2010) Archie Green Student Travel Award American Folklore Society (2009) Professor You has advised numerous independent studies on topics ranging from China’s three-child policy impacts to Indigenous activism in Taiwan and expatriate experiences during the pandemic. Her mentorship extends beyond traditional academic supervision into fostering cross-cultural understanding as evidenced by her New Books Network interviews promoting scholarly dialogue. While not leading formal laboratories her ethnographic approach involves immersive fieldwork and digital documentation techniques that function as dynamic research teams engaging community participants as co-creators of knowledge.

• Chinese Oral and Performing Literature
• Food and Folklore
• Chinese Mythology and Popular Religion
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Lawrence C. Reardon is a Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, University of New Hampshire, specializing in China's political economy, foreign policy, and religious governance. He is also affiliated with Harvard University's Fairbank Center (Research Associate), Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Luce Fellow), and Jinan University (Special Researcher). Education: Ph.D. in Political Science from Columbia University, M.Phil. in Political Science from Columbia University, M.I.A. from Columbia University, and B.A. in International/Global Studies from Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on China's economic development strategies, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the intersection of religion and statecraft. He has published extensively in journals like The China Quarterly and China Business Review , and authored or co-edited influential works such as A Third Way: The Origins of China's Current Economic Development Strategy (2020) and The Catholic Church and the Nation-State (2006). Professor Reardon's teaching at UNH includes courses on Asian foreign policy, international political economy, and the Asian studies minor. His work bridges empirical analysis of Chinese policy with broader theoretical debates on crisis-driven reform and state-building, offering critical insights into China's evolving role in global affairs.

• China's foreign economic policy
• China's domestic policy
• China's religious policies
• +7 more

Nancy S. Steinhardt is a Professor of East Asian Art and Curator of Chinese Art at the University of Pennsylvania since 1982. She holds affiliations in the Department of History of Art, Department of Architecture, and the Penn Museum. With a PhD from Harvard (1981) and former Junior Fellowship there, her research focuses on Chinese art, architecture, and archaeology from the 2nd to 14th centuries, emphasizing cultural interactions at China's borders. She has authored/co-edited over 12 books, including China: an Architectural History (2019), and published over 100 articles. Steinhardt has received prestigious awards like the Alice David Hitchcock Book Award (2021) and multiple fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEH, and others. Her research projects include Mongolia: Architecture and Archaeology and Modern Chinese Architecture: 180 Years . She has organized major conferences on topics like 'Middle-Period Archaeology in Mongolia' and 'Global Cities.' As an advisor and guest curator for institutions like the Metropolitan Museum and the Penn Museum, she promotes international collaborations in China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and Russia. Her teaching spans courses on Chinese archaeology, East Asian funerary arts, and the architectural history of the Mongol Empire. Steinhardt’s work bridges academic and public spheres, with over 400 lectures and roles like Ailsa Mellon Bruce Senior Fellow at the National Gallery (2017). Her grants include the 2018 Penn Museum Director’s Field Research Grant and the 2001 Guggenheim Fellowship. She serves on the Society of Architectural Historians board, reflecting her leadership in architectural historiography.

• Chinese Art History
• Architectural History
• East Asian Archaeology
• +6 more

Dr. Qingjun (Joan) Li is Professor of Asian Studies and Chinese in the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at Belmont University. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Middle Tennessee State University and specializes in Chinese American literature, comparative literature, Asian studies, and Chinese language pedagogy. Prior to joining Belmont, she was an Associate Professor of English at Zhengzhou University in China. Ph.D., English (American Literature), Middle Tennessee State University M.A., English, Belmont University B.A., English, Zhengzhou University, P.R. China Dr. Li’s research centers on the intersections between Chinese and American literary and philosophical traditions. Her work explores how Chinese thought, particularly Daoism and Confucianism, influenced American writers like Thoreau and Ezra Pound. She also investigates themes of cultural identity, gender, and diaspora in Chinese American literature, with a focus on Maxine Hong Kingston. Her scholarship extends to Chinese language pedagogy and the commodification of culture in China’s modern cultural industries. Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in comparative philosophy and transnational literary analysis, particularly examining East-West dialogues in thought and expression. She frequently publishes on the reception of Chinese philosophy in American transcendentalism and modernist literature. Virginia M. Chaney Distinguished Professor (2014–2015) Faculty Award for Leadership in Christian Service (2017–2018) Advisor of the Year (2018–2019) Mellon Foundation ASIANetwork Faculty Enhancement Fellowship (2017) Selected for ASIANetwork Speakers Bureau (2015–2018) Dr. Li is a dedicated mentor and advisor who has guided numerous students to receive Chinese Government Scholarships, Fulbright awards, and Critical Language Scholarships. She co-directs Belmont’s study abroad programs in China and has led student research teams there. She also serves as advisor to the Chinese Cultural Association. Her academic leadership includes organizing collaborative teaching initiatives with Beijing Language and Culture University and presenting widely at national and international conferences on Asian studies and American literature. She is actively involved in academic programming, including keynote lectures, faculty workshops, and community outreach on Chinese culture and literature. Her work bridges academia, cultural diplomacy, and public education.

• Chinese American Literature
• Comparative Literature
• Asian American Studies
• +7 more

Richard Shultz is the Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Security Studies and Director of the International Security Studies Program (ISSP) at The Fletcher School, Tufts University. His work focuses on U.S. national security policy, irregular warfare, special operations, and intelligence strategy. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Miami University. Shultz has held distinguished academic chairs, including at the U.S. Military Academy and Naval War College, and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Joint Special Operations University. His recent research examines military innovation in counterinsurgency, AI’s role in warfare, and security sector reform. Notable publications include *Transforming US Intelligence for Irregular War* (2020) and *Big Data at War* (2020). Shultz’s research emphasizes adapting U.S. security paradigms to non-state threats and 21st-century warfare. His articles analyze Task Force 714’s Iraq operations, AI integration in military strategy, and counterterrorism tactics. Awards include the Bradley Fellowship and Scaife Foundation support. He advises U.S. agencies and teaches courses on intelligence policy, irregular warfare, and crisis management. Grants include funding from the Smith Richardson Foundation and Deloitte for projects on China’s South China Sea strategy and malign influence detection. Shultz leads ISSP, which trains students in national security careers through curriculum development, crisis simulations, and military fellowships. He has conducted fieldwork globally, including in the Middle East and NATO regions, teaching special operations strategies to foreign militaries. Labs/teams include collaborations with SOCOM, JSOU, and the Marine Corps on irregular warfare and AI-driven intelligence systems.

• U.S. National Security Policy
• Regional Conflict and State Disintegration
• Ethnic and Religious Violence
• +4 more

Dr. Huwy-min Lucia Liu is a professor of Anthropology at George Mason University, specializing in cultural and political anthropology with a focus on China and Taiwan. She holds a Ph.D. from Boston University and previously served as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Her research examines social change in authoritarian regimes, particularly how death rituals, governance, and market reforms shape identity and subjectivity in China. She has received prestigious fellowships including the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship and Harvard’s Cora Du Bois Fellowship. Dr. Liu’s work bridges political economy and cultural practices, analyzing how socialist legacies persist in death commemoration despite marketization. Her monograph *Governing Death, Making Persons* (2022) explores funeral governance in Shanghai, showing how socialist ideals shape posthumous identities. She has also researched national park policies in China and conservation efforts for Formosan Black Bears in Taiwan. Her teaching spans cultural anthropology, political theory, death studies, and East Asian ethnography. Key grants include the Early Career Scheme Grant from Hong Kong’s University Grants Council (2017–2019). Recent presentations include talks on decolonizing black bear conservation and China’s national parks at George Mason University.

• Cultural Anthropology
• Political Anthropology
• Politics, Economy and Religion
• +8 more

Lawrence J. Liu is a Rule of Law Fellow at Stanford Law School’s Neukom Center for the Rule of Law, set to join Washington University in St. Louis School of Law as an Associate Professor in summer 2026. His research focuses on comparative law and politics, particularly state-society relations in China and the United States, with an emphasis on legal professionals, administrative adjudicators, and policy-making processes in trade and authoritarian legal systems. Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy (2025), University of California, Berkeley J.D. (2022), Yale Law School M.A. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy (2018), University of California, Berkeley A.B. (2016), Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs His interdisciplinary work integrates mixed-methods research to analyze how legal institutions shape decision-making in administrative law, international trade law, and Chinese legal politics. He examines the role of lawyers, interest groups, and judges in policy formation, with a particular interest in state-society mediation and empirical legal dynamics. His publications address judicial independence in U.S. administrative law, legal professionalism in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and religious influence in federal appellate rulings. These works have appeared in Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law , Yale Journal of International Law , The China Quarterly , and Law & Social Inquiry . 2021 Law & Society Association Article Prize for 'The Good Lawyer: State-Led Professional Socialization in Contemporary China' Lawrence has taught courses on quantitative law & social science, authoritarian legal systems, and the sociology of law. His ongoing projects include a bottom-up analysis of U.S. administrative trade remedies and comparative studies of legal practice in China and the U.S.

• International Trade Law
• Chinese Law and Politics
• Administrative Law
• +3 more

Victoria Tin-bor Hui is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Her work focuses on international politics, state-society relations in historical China and Europe, and contemporary Hong Kong’s struggle for democracy. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Columbia University and a B.S.Sc. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Hui has held a fellowship with the Council on Foreign Relations (2021-2022) and testified before Congress on Hong Kong’s political crisis. Her award-winning book *War and State Formation in Ancient China and Early Modern Europe* challenges conventional narratives about citizenship rights development. Hui’s research bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, particularly documenting Beijing’s suppression of Hong Kong’s autonomy via the 2020 National Security Law. She has been widely interviewed by major media including the *New York Times*, BBC, and *Wall Street Journal*. Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science, Columbia University B.S.Sc. in Journalism, Chinese University of Hong Kong Research Interests: Hui examines how war shapes state formation, with a focus on comparing ancient China and early modern Europe. Her recent work documents Beijing’s systemic erosion of Hong Kong’s freedoms through legal repression, police militarization, and cultural homogenization. Key themes include: Citizen rights dynamics across historical systems Authoritarian governance tactics in modern China Nonviolent resistance strategies in repressive regimes Publications Overview: Her work synthesizes historical analysis with contemporary challenges, including: Analysis of Hong Kong’s evolving police state under CCP rule Comparative studies of state formation mechanisms Documentation of CCP’s multi-faceted repression toolkit Awards & Recognition: 2005: Award-winning book on comparative state formation 2021-2022: Congressional-Executive Commission on China Fellowship Advising & Engagement: Hui runs a research blog analyzing Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement and its theoretical implications. She collaborates with human rights organizations and has advised policymakers on China’s geopolitical strategies. Her work bridges academia and activism through: Public testimony on Hong Kong’s political crisis Media commentary on China’s international behavior Collaborations with NGOs documenting rights violations Labs/Teams: Leads the Notre Dame Hong Kong Policy Research Group, analyzing CCP’s governance tactics and their implications for regional stability. Coordinates a transnational network of scholars documenting authoritarian regime strategies globally.

• International Politics
• State-Society Relations
• Comparative Political History
• +4 more

Lina Benabdallah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics & International Affairs at Wake Forest University, specializing in China-Africa relations and postcolonial international relations. Her research examines China's foreign policy in Africa, development-security approaches, and global governance transformations. She authored Shaping the Future of Power: Knowledge Production and Network-Building in China-Africa Relations (2020) and is working on a new book analyzing China's Silk Road narratives. Her work explores private sector diplomacy, critical mineral extraction, and Africa's role in US-China rivalry.

• China-Africa Relations
• International Development
• Foreign Policy
• +2 more