Yi Edward Yang

Yi Edward Yang is a Professor of Political Science at James Madison University (JMU) and Director of the Washington Semester Program and JMU Washington Center. His research focuses on foreign policy decision-making, political psychology, Chinese foreign policy, and U.S.-China relations. He holds a bachelor’s degree from China Foreign Affairs University and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Yang has contributed to peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Conflict Resolution and Political Psychology. He co-edited Challenges to China's Economic Statecraft: A Global Perspective (2019) and previously served as an editorial board member for Asian Survey. From 2016–2018, he led the Association of Chinese Political Studies (ACPS), the largest U.S.-based organization on Chinese politics.

As program director, he oversees academic and operational aspects of JMU’s Washington Semester and Washington Center initiatives. His work bridges scholarly research and practical policy engagement in international relations and political analysis.