Lijun Zhang

Lijun Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Folklore in the Department of English at George Mason University. Her research focuses on material culture, heritage management, museums, and Chinese folk traditions. She holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University-Bloomington, an M.A. from Beijing Normal University, and a B.A. in English from Beijing Normal University.

Her work bridges folklore studies with museum practices, examining topics like UNESCO heritage sites (Tulou), basketry crafts in Guangxi, and the interplay between tourism and cultural preservation. She has published extensively, including her 2024 monograph *Living in Heritage* and co-edited volumes on Chinese folklore and quilt traditions. Zhang also co-curated exhibitions such as *Quilts of Southwest China* and serves as an associate editor of the *Journal of American Folklore*.

Her teaching includes courses on material culture, folk narrative, and Chinese folk culture. She actively participates in international conferences and has presented on topics ranging from ecomuseums in Guangxi to the impact of the pandemic on public folklore practices.