Taiyi Sun

Dr. Taiyi Sun is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Christopher Newport University (CNU), where he has been a faculty member since 2017. His research focuses on Chinese politics, disaster politics, civil society, and international political economy, with a particular emphasis on how disasters reshape state-society relations and the dynamics of authoritarian governance. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Boston University, an M.A. in International Affairs from American University, and a B.A. in Politics and Government from Ripon College.

Dr. Sun’s work bridges academic and policy-oriented scholarship, with notable contributions on topics such as the Wenchuan earthquake’s impact on civil society, delegated censorship mechanisms in China, and the myth of war in the Taiwan Strait. He has presented his research at prestigious institutions including Harvard University, MIT, Peking University, and Zhejiang University. His academic writings have appeared in journals like China Information, Politics and Society, and Journal of Contemporary China, as well as edited volumes from Routledge and Lexington Books.

Awarded membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Sun is also actively involved in public engagement, serving as a resident at the Interactivity Foundation and contributing to discussions on Sino-U.S. relations, hydro-politics, and disaster response. He teaches courses such as East Asian Politics, International Relations, and Public Policy, emphasizing civic engagement and critical analysis.