Prof. Dr. Daniel Leese is a full professor of History and Politics of Modern China at the University of Freiburg's Institute of Sinology. He specializes in 20th-century Chinese history, focusing on the Communist Party's legacy and transitional justice. Current research includes a dual biography of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, and analysis of PRC information systems. Education: PhD in International History (2006, International University Bremen). Academic roles include ERC grant leadership (2014-2019) and FRIAS Senior Fellowship (2018-2019). Awards include Carl Friedrich von Siemens Fellowship (2022/2023). Key publications: Maos langer Schatten (2021) Justice After Mao (2023) Chinesisches Denken der Gegenwart (2023) Research emphasizes Mao's political impact, historical justice mechanisms, and institutional memory. Maintains a digital archive of Mao-era documents (maoistlegacy.de).
Cangbai Wang is a Professor of Migration, Heritage and Language at the University of Westminster and co-founder of HOMELandS (Hub On Migration, Exile, Languages and Spaces). He holds a PhD in Asian Studies from the University of Hong Kong (2003) and previously worked as a Post-doctoral Fellow/Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong and Visiting Lecturer at City University of Hong Kong. Academic focus: Transnational migration, Chinese diasporas, cultural heritage Co-Director of HOMELandS since 2014 (elevated to Research Centre in 2023) External Examiner for 20 institutions including University of Birmingham (2024), University of Cambridge (2020), and Nanyang Technological University (2024) His research explores the intersection of migration and material culture , emphasizing how diasporic communities negotiate identity through heritage practices. Recent work examines museum representations of Chinese diasporas and language dynamics in multicultural London. He has led the AHRC-funded Global Diasporic Chinese Museums Network Initiative (2023-2025) and contributed to policy discussions on diaspora engagement with Chinese municipal governments. Key publication: Museum Representations of Chinese Diasporas (Routledge 2021) and Negotiating Identities, Language and Migration in Global London (Multilingual Matters 2024). Supervised PhDs include Denise Kwan’s The talking of objects: migratory experiences and Chinese women in UK (2020) and Xiao Ma’s ongoing London Chinatown: heritage making and diasporic identities . Active in academic leadership: Co-editor: Routledge Research on Museums and Heritage in Asia Editorial board: Social Transformations in Chinese Societies (since 2024) International editorial board: Chinese Overseas Review (since 2020) UKRI FLF Peer Review College member
Jia-Yan Mi serves as Associate Professor of Chinese and English in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at The College of New Jersey's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, where she has held key roles since 2002 including Director of the Chinese Program and Faculty Advisor for the Chinese Students Association. Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Film Studies from the University of California at Davis (2002). Mi's research critically intersects Comparative Literature, Asian American Studies, Critical Theory, and Film Studies with specialized focus on Chinese poetry, diaspora narratives, and cultural identity. Her work examines embodied experience in modern Chinese literature, border theory in global contexts, and pandemic-era poetic responses, consistently bridging literary analysis with visual culture and postcolonial frameworks. Recent scholarly output reveals an escalating engagement with viral optics, diasporic consciousness, and therapeutic nation-building in Chinese literary traditions, evolving from foundational studies of modern poetry to contemporary analyses of global Chinese-language expressions during crisis. Her scientific recognition includes: Outstanding Research on Modern and Contemporary Poetics, Jianghan University, PRC (2018) Support of Scholarly Activities (SOSA) Award, The College of New Jersey (2023) Mi maintains extensive institutional engagement through committee leadership including: Director of Chinese Program (2002–present) Chair of Minor in Comparative Literature Committee (2023–present) Roebling Committee and Art on Campus Committee membership (2021–present) Department Promotion Committee service (2018–present)
Prof. Dr. Henning Klöter is Professor of Modern Chinese Languages and Literatures at Humboldt University of Berlin (HU Berlin) and serves as Dean of the Faculty of Culture, Language and Education. He is affiliated with the Institute of Asian and African Studies and the Department of East Asian Studies. He has been a faculty member since 2015 and leads significant research in sociolinguistics, language planning, and Sinophone studies. His educational background includes studies in Sinology, German Studies, and Linguistics at the University of Trier, Capital Normal University (Beijing), Leiden University, and National Taiwan University. He earned his doctorate from Leiden University in 2003 and completed his habilitation at Ruhr University Bochum in 2010. Henning Klöter's research focuses on multilingualism, language planning, the history of Chinese linguistics in Europe—especially missionary and colonial linguistics—historical sociolinguistics, Overseas Chinese communities, and Taiwan Studies, with regional interests spanning the PRC, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, the Philippines, and Taiwan. His work often explores the ideological and political dimensions of language standardization and visibility in public space. Since 2023, he has been Chief Editor of the Journal of Asian Pacific Communication. His recent scholarly output reveals a strong trend in historical and sociopolitical aspects of Chinese language use, particularly across Sinophone regions. Themes include language policy divergence between Taiwan and the PRC, linguistic landscape analysis in Taipei, missionary lexicography, and the evolution of Chinese linguistic standards. His publications bridge historical documentation with contemporary sociolinguistic theory, emphasizing pluricentricity and ideological influences on language. Chief Editor, Journal of Asian Pacific Communication (since 2023) Principal Investigator, ChinGram (Erasmus+ project) Principal Investigator, EMHo (DFG Weave project) He has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided texts. Prof. Klöter is actively engaged in major research initiatives and editorial leadership, contributing significantly to the academic understanding of language in Chinese-speaking societies. He is involved in the Mori-Ōgai Memorial and contributes to the academic community through research projects, publications, and institutional leadership. His work often intersects with cultural memory, colonial history, and linguistic identity in East Asia.
Glenn Tiffert is a Distinguished Research Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, specializing in modern Chinese history and contemporary US-China relations. He co-chairs Hoover's program on the US, China, and the World and leads Stanford's participation in the NSF SECURE program, a $67 million initiative authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Tiffert is a historian of modern China with expertise in the political and legal history of the People's Republic of China. His research focuses on the construction of China's court system and judiciary, the drafting of the 1954 PRC Constitution, and the suppressed genealogy of the rule of law in China. He has pioneered the integration of computational methods into Chinese historical studies and is currently completing the first archival study in any language of the takeover and reconstitution of a Chinese state organ (the courts) by the Chinese Communist Party. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward analyzing China's global influence operations, research security challenges, and technological competition between the US and China. Tiffert's work increasingly addresses how authoritarian regimes exploit vulnerabilities in open knowledge ecosystems, particularly examining China's 'sharp power' projection and efforts to reshape global narratives. Co-chairs the Hoover project on China's Global Sharp Power Executive committee member of the Academic Security and Counter-Exploitation Program Participant in multiple Hoover research teams including Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region and Semiconductors security working group Testified before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Chinese malign influence operations Tiffert collaborates extensively with government and civil society partners worldwide to document and build resilience against authoritarian interference with democratic institutions. His work spans academic research, policy development, and public education on the security and integrity of knowledge ecosystems, particularly academic, corporate, and government research.
Professor Jon Eugene von Kowallis is Professor of Chinese Studies in the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. He has held this position while also serving as President of the Australian Society for Asian Humanities and as a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of the Humanities and the Royal Asiatic Society (London). His academic career spans multiple institutions including Berkeley, UCLA, Oregon, Williams College, Karlova (Prague), and the University of Melbourne prior to UNSW. Professor von Kowallis earned his BA from Columbia University, MA in Chinese literature from the University of Hawaii, and PhD in Oriental Languages (specializing in Chinese literature) from the University of California, Berkeley. He also studied at National Taiwan University and Beijing University. His educational background reflects his deep engagement with Chinese language and literature across multiple academic traditions. His research focuses on Chinese literature, particularly modern Chinese literature, classical Chinese poetry, and Lu Xun studies. He has pioneered work on the role of classical Chinese poetry during China's modern era, challenging dominant paradigms in Chinese literary history. His book The Subtle Revolution: Poets of the 'Old Schools' in late Qing and early Republican China has been recognized as ground-breaking and has influenced an entire field of scholarship. He is also internationally acknowledged as an authority on Lu Xun, particularly for his monograph The Lyrical Lu Xun: a Study of his Classical-style Verse . His recent publications demonstrate consistent engagement with Lu Xun studies, classical Chinese poetry in modern contexts, Chinese cinema, and contemporary Chinese theatre. His work spans traditional literary scholarship, archival research on manuscripts, and analysis of contemporary cultural productions. The articles show a trajectory from early foundational work on historical literary figures to current research on contemporary adaptations and performances of Chinese literary works. Goldstar Award for research (UNSW, 2008) Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China Prize (2014) Publication grant from Ministry of Culture of PRC (2016) Zhifang Distinguished Professor, Fudan University (2018) Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (2020) US-China Scholars Program Fellowship (2021-2022) Professor von Kowallis actively supervises graduate students working on Lu Xun's Gushi Xinbian, Shen Congwen's short stories, and classical-style verse in modern contexts. His ARC Discovery Project "The Young Lu Xun and His Early Work Written in Japan" has deepened understanding of Chinese intellectual relations with the West and Japan. He has established significant research partnerships with Chinese institutions including Beijing Lu Xun Museum, Peking University, and Fudan University, where he conducted research at Theatre Above in Shanghai, the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, and Huichang Theatre Village in Jiangxi Province (2024-5).
Tsering Shakya is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), holding the Canada Research Chair in Religion and Contemporary Society in Asia. He is affiliated with the Institute for Asian Research within the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and co-leads the Himalaya Program. His expertise spans Tibetan history, politics, and cultural production, with notable contributions to understanding ethno-national identity, religious practice, and minority policy in the Himalayan region and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Shakya’s research bridges historical and contemporary analyses of Tibet, focusing on social transformation, political dynamics, and the role of social media in shaping minority experiences. He currently serves as President of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, reflecting his global scholarly leadership. Research Interests : His work examines the intersection of politics, identity, and religion in Tibet and the Himalayas. Key themes include Tibetan cultural resilience, PRC minority policies, and the evolving landscape of protest and dissent. He has also explored the impact of social media on marginalized communities in China. Awards : He holds the prestigious Canada Research Chair, underscoring his academic impact. His seminal works, such as The Dragon in the Land of Snows , are widely acclaimed as foundational texts on modern Tibetan history. Teaching : He teaches courses like Nationalism, Religion, and Ethnic Conflict in Asia and Policy in Context , emphasizing critical analysis of regional and global policy challenges. Labs/Teams : As co-lead of the Himalaya Program, he fosters interdisciplinary research on Himalayan societies, governance, and cultural preservation.
Guido Samarani is a Senior Researcher at the Department of Asian and North African Studies , Ca' Foscari University of Venice, since 2020. Previously a Professor at the same institution (2000-2020), his work focuses on Chinese history , political transitions , and Italy-China relations . Director, Marco Polo Center for Global Europe-Asia Connections (2018-2021) Guest Professor, Zhejiang University (China) Member of multiple editorial and scientific committees including European Journal of East Asian Studies Research Interests center on: 20th-21st Century Chinese Political History Communist Party of China's Development Cold War Italy-China Interactions Global Historiography of China Publications include monographs on Mao Zedong, Red China, and the 100-year history of the CCP. His works explore the interplay between revolutionary ideology , diplomacy , and historiographical debates . Scientific Recognition : Honorary Member, Italian Association of Chinese Studies (2022-) Active in conference organization , he chaired panels on Eurasian geopolitics, Belt and Road Initiative, and comparative studies of Italian and German interactions in China. His editorial roles span journals like Mondo Cinese and Sinica Venetiana .
James A. Millward is a Professor of Inter-societal History at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of History. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Stanford University (1993), an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London, 1985), and a BA in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard (1983). Millward specializes in Qing imperial history, the Silk Road, Xinjiang studies, and cross-cultural musical exchanges across Eurasia. Research Interests: His work critically examines Sinicization narratives, the Qing tribute system, and the impact of colonial historiography on contemporary China's ethnic policies. He also explores musical instrument diffusion along the Silk Road, comparing lutes like the pipa and oud. Publications: Notable works include Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang (2007, 2021), The Silk Road: A Very Short Introduction (2013), and chapters in edited volumes analyzing Qing multiculturalism and cultural assimilation frameworks. Academic Leadership: As former president of the Central Eurasian Studies Society (2010) and contributor to the International Studies Association award-winning Culture and Order in World Politics (2019), Millward bridges historical analysis with modern political discourse. Media Engagement: A frequent contributor to The New York Times , Washington Post , and international media, he provides expert commentary on Xinjiang, Uyghur issues, and China-West relations. His current projects include a study of lute cultural exchange and the book Decolonizing History in China , challenging exceptionalist narratives in mainland historiography.
Sarah Mellors Rodriguez is an Associate Professor of East Asian History at Emory University, specializing in modern China with a focus on gender/sexuality, aging, and medicine. Previously, she held the same rank at Missouri State University. She earned her MA and PhD in Modern Chinese History from the University of California, Irvine (2018). Her work integrates archival research and oral histories to explore population policies and healthcare access in China. Rodriguez teaches courses on modern China, gender studies, and eugenics. Education: PhD in Modern Chinese History, University of California, Irvine (2018) MA in Modern Chinese History, University of California, Irvine (2018) Research Interests: Reproductive health policy and grassroots implementation Age-related social welfare and healthcare inequities in Global China Sexuality and state propaganda in the Maoist era Transnational histories of medical technologies Publications: Her award-winning book Reproductive Realities in Modern China (2023) examines population policies through 80+ interviews. Recent work includes studies on condom history, IUDs, and Mao-era hygiene guides. Awards: 2022 Berkshire Conference Book Prize Honorable Mention Current Project: Growing Old: A History of Aging in Global China investigates post-collective era welfare systems and healthcare access challenges for aging populations since 1949. Teaching and Service: Courses include Modern China Histories, Gender & Sexuality, and Eugenics. Office hours: MW 2:30–3:30pm in Modern Languages Building 120.
Mara Yue Du is an Associate Professor of History at Cornell University, affiliated with both the Department of History and the Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in History from New York University, an M.A. in History from Peking University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Peking University. Dr. Du's research centers on the history of modern China (17th century–present), with particular expertise in law, state-building, and China's global connections. Her scholarship examines how Chinese political power has historically been structured around filial piety and family relations, exploring the transition from imperial to modern Chinese state formation. She investigates how concepts of nation, state, and family have evolved in Chinese history and how these concepts intersect with global developments. Her scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with major historical questions in Chinese studies, with publications spanning legal history, gender studies, diplomatic history, and political thought. Her work reveals patterns connecting historical Chinese concepts of statehood with contemporary political developments, particularly regarding the relationship between family structures and state power. 2022 International Society for Chinese Law and History Biennial Book Prize for State and Family in China: Filial Piety and Its Modern Reform Dr. Du advises graduate students in the History department and has been awarded research funding including the Twenty Affinito-Stewart research grants for the 2022-2023 academic year. She has also been in residence at the Institute for Advanced Study. Her scholarly influence extends through her participation in academic networks and collaborations with researchers across institutions globally.
Dr. Emily Wilcox is the Margaret Hamilton Professor of Chinese Studies at William & Mary and core faculty in the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Program. She holds affiliations with the University of Michigan’s Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies and multiple interdisciplinary programs. Her research focuses on modern Chinese performing arts, cultural diplomacy, and Cold War transnational networks. Wilcox earned degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, and UC Berkeley. She has held roles as Interim Chair of Modern Languages at William & Mary and Associate Chair at the University of Michigan. Her awards include the 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship and the 2019 de la Torre Bueno Prize. Her research explores Sino-Japanese cultural diplomacy, Cold War dance exchanges, and the role of performance in Asian geopolitics. Recent work includes analyzing the Matsuyama Ballet’s White-Haired Girl adaptation and China’s Bandung-era dance diplomacy. Wilcox has authored six books and over 30 articles, co-curated major exhibitions on Chinese dance history, and directs the Chinese Dance Collection at the University of Michigan. Her work bridges dance studies, cultural history, and East Asian studies.
Philip Thai is an Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies at Northeastern University and Director of the Global Asian Studies Program. He holds an affiliation as an Associate in Research at Harvard University's Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. His interdisciplinary research focuses on Modern China and East Asia, emphasizing legal, economic, and diplomatic history. Dr. Thai earned his PhD in History from Stanford University (2013). His current book project explores Cold War-era underground economies across Greater China, while his earlier work includes China’s War on Smuggling: Law, Economic Life, and the Making of the Modern State (Columbia University Press, 2018). His research has been supported by major institutions including the ACLS, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, American Philosophical Society, and the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation. Key awards include the Business History Conference’s Philip Scranton Best Article Prize (2023) and an ACLS Frederick Burkhardt Fellowship (2022–23). Thai’s work bridges historical analysis with contemporary relevance, addressing topics like global health governance and Sino-American relations. His teaching and research programs emphasize transnational and interdisciplinary approaches to Asian Studies.
Michael G. Chang is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Art History at George Mason University. He specializes in the history of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), with particular expertise in imperial touring, court studies, and the political, social, cultural and economic histories of late imperial/early modern China (1500-1800). Chang received his A.B. in sociology and East Asian Studies from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in Chinese history from the University of California, San Diego. His research focuses on the political and material cultures through which High Qing rule (1680-1820) was constituted, especially as revealed in practices of material exchange and network formation at the Qing court. His scholarly work examines the intersection of ethnic identity, imperial spectacle, and political authority in Qing China. Chang's research particularly explores how the Manchu rulers used imperial tours, court encampments, and martial displays to assert their authority while simultaneously engaging with Han Chinese political traditions. His publications reveal how seemingly mundane practices like imperial touring, feasting, and encampment construction were central to Qing political legitimacy and state formation. Chang's publications reveal a consistent focus on how the Qing court navigated the complex relationship between Manchu ethnic identity and Chinese imperial traditions. His work demonstrates how the Qianlong emperor transformed the spectacle of 'ruling from horseback' from a stigmatized sign of illegitimate military rule into a specific badge of ethno-dynastic (Manchu) discipline and diligence as well as benevolent civilian rule. Public Intellectuals Program (PIP) sponsored by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), 2011-2013 Chang regularly teaches courses on early ('ancient'), later imperial ('traditional'), modern, and contemporary (PRC) Chinese history as well as global history, East Asian history, Chinese nationalism(s), and general historiography. His teaching reflects his research interests in connecting political, cultural, and social dimensions of Chinese history across different periods. His courses include HIST 125: Introduction to Global History, HIST 252: History of East Asia, Part 2, HIST 387: Early (Ancient) China, HIST 353: Later Imperial (Traditional) China, HIST 354: Modern China, HIST 358: Contemporary (Post-1949) China, and HIST 610: The Study and Writing of History. His scholarly presentations at major academic conferences including the Association of Asian Studies demonstrate his active engagement with the field and his research on patrimonialism, material culture at the Qing court, and the political significance of imperial tours.
Lu Liu is an Assistant Professor at the School of Modern Languages, Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research examines intersections of literary, visual, and media cultures with transnational biological, hygienic, and environmental knowledge in modern China. She is completing a book manuscript, *Trans-species Revolution: Pests and the Unwanted Nature in Modern China, 1900s–1970s*, analyzing pests as agents in political and ecological struggles. Her work appears in journals like *British Journal for the History of Science* and *China Perspectives*, and edited volumes such as *Socializing Medicine* and *Global Humanities Approach to the UN SDGs*. Education: Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Madison), M.A. and B.A. (Peking University, China). Teaching focuses on Chinese literature, cinema, foodways, revolutionary art, and sustainability. Research interests span Chinese history of technology, literary studies, media studies, and science/technology studies, with a geographic focus on East Asia. Courses taught include Chinese language, culture, and special topics like food culture and health rhetoric. Publications highlight themes of scientific narratives in socialist China, environmental imagery in literature, and medical innovation. Advising and grants are not explicitly detailed in the text. She is affiliated with no specific lab or team mentioned.
