New Horizons: Navigating the Future of U.S.-China Educational Exchanges

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Since the normalization of U.S.-China bilateral relationship 45 years ago, educational exchanges have brought many benefits to both countries. Even though the pandemic and geopolitical tensions have significantly hindered two-way exchanges during the last three years, the overall environment is improving. Last November, leaders of both countries reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting people-to-people exchange at their meeting in San Francisco, where Chinese President Xi Jinping boldly announced the goal of welcoming 50,000 American students to visit China in the next 5 years. This announcement has created much excitement among educators and community leaders.

Please join us in this special online event that brings together leaders dedicated to expanding U.S.-China educational exchanges for a timely discussion on the new opportunities and challenges ahead.

This program is a collaboration between the U.S. Heartland China Association and China Institute in America.

Panelist

Minister Counselor SHEN Xuesong

Minister Counselor of Education for the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

SHEN Xuesong

Ms. SHEN Xuesong was appointed as Minister Counsellor of Embassy of People’s Republic of China in the United States of America in December, 2023. She graduated from Foreign Languages Department and International and Comparative Education Institute of Beijing Normal University and the Political Sciences Department of Ball State University (USA). She served as Deputy Secretary General of China Education Association for International Exchange (2014-2021), Education Program Specialist at UNESCO Liaison Office to  the UN in New York and UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (2006-2012), Vice Chair of World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (2018-2021), as well as Minister Counselor, the Permanent Delegation of China to UNESCO (2021-
2023).

SHEN Xuesong's Bio

Panelist

Peggy Blumenthal

Senior Counselor to the CEO of Institute of International Education

Peggy Blumenthal

After 20 years of service at IIE, Ms. Blumenthal became IIE's Chief Operating Officer in 2005, transitioning to the role of Senior Counselor to IIE’s CEO in 2011. Her earlier responsibilities at IIE included supervision of its international offices, research, and educational services, working closely with the U.S. Department of State and other public and private sponsors.

Before joining IIE, Ms. Blumenthal served as Assistant Director of Stanford University's Overseas Studies and then as Coordinator of Graduate Services/Fellowships for the University of Hawaii's Center for Asian and Pacific Studies. Her earlier work focused on the development of U.S.-China exchanges as a staff member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Asia Society's China Council.

Ms. Blumenthal holds a B.A. from Harvard University in Modern Chinese History (magna cum laude) and an M.A. in American Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She chairs the Board of JCIE-USA (Japan Center for International Exchange), is on the Board of the US-Japan Bridging Foundation and previously served as a Trustee of the Hong Kong America Center and Princeton-in-Asia.

Selected publications include A Rising or Ebbing Tide: Do Chinese Students Still Want To Study in the U.S.?, IIE White Paper, 2021; Welcoming a New Wave of Students from China: Rising Expectations and Challenges, co-authored chapter with S. Lim, Summer 2017 issue of New Directions for Student Services; International Students and Global Mobility in Higher Education: National Trends and New Directions co-edited with R. Bhandari, (Palgrave MacMillan, 2011); Developing Global Competence in Engineering Students: US and German Approaches, co-authored with U. Grothus, DAAD, Online Journal for Global Engineering Education, Volume 3, Issue 2, 2008.

Peggy Blumenthal's Bio

Panelist

President James Smith

Dr. James Smith

President of Eastern Michigan University

James Smith

Before coming to EMU, Smith served as president of Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen, South Dakota, since June 2009. 

Smith, 66, who grew up near Columbus, Ohio, in Washington Court House, knew early on that he wanted to be a teacher. He always admired teachers and enjoyed school. He became an elementary and middle school teacher after earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1979. He would go on to earn a Master of Education, Educational Administration, from Xavier University in Cincinnati and a Doctor of Philosophy, Educational Leadership, from Miami University.

Over the next 28 years, Smith served as an elementary school principal, a teaching fellow and assistant professor at Miami, director of the Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals at Butler University in Indianapolis, and director of the Educational Leadership Program and coordinator of doctoral studies at West Texas A&M University. Smith was also vice president for Economic Development at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, before heading to NSU.

Smith’s wife, Dr. Connie Ruhl-Smith, has an impressive resume of her own. She has been a teacher, author and administrator, and has done extensive work in student retention and student academic support, introduction of international partnerships, and much more. As Director of Development for International Relations for the EMU Foundation, she works with alumni and others to pursue international development opportunities.

James Smith's Bio

Panelist

Dr. Heather Burns Page

Principal of The Baccalaureate School for Global Education, New York City Public Schools

Heather Burns Page

Dr. Heather Burns Page is the principal of the Baccalaureate School for Global Education, a 7-12 world IB school located in Astoria, Queens. A science educator and school leader of over twenty-three years in the New York City public schools, Dr. Page is a recipient of the 2015 New York Times “Teachers Who Make a Difference” Award, striving to prepare students to be global citizens and environmental stewards who work to better themselves, their community, and the environment. Dr. Page loves to explore nature through travel and has taken students to Eastern and Western Europe, South Pacific, Central and South America. She completed two global study programs in Africa with New York University and circumnavigated Iceland as a 2016 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow in collaboration with National Geographic. Dr. Page was selected to join the delegation of school leaders from the New York City Department of Education and participated in the 2023 China Educational Leadership Study Tour and Exchange.

Heather Burns Page's Bio

Panelist

Dr. Alpha "Xinying" Edens

Professor at University of Tulsa & 2023 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award Recipient

Alpha Edens

Dr. Xinying “Alpha” Edens is an accomplished educator, currently serving as an Assistant Professor at The University of Tulsa. With a passion for Chinese language education, she holds multiple prestigious roles within academia and language assessment. Dr. Edens is also Chair of the Beihai Sister City Partnership for Tulsa Global Alliance.

Her contributions to Chinese language education have been widely recognized, earning her esteemed honors such as the US Heartland China Association’s Heartland Chinese Teacher Award. Additionally, she has been honored with the Ye Laoshi Legacy Scholarship by the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools, acknowledging her impactful contributions to the field.

Edens’s leadership in Chinese language education has also been celebrated through her role as the Director of the Holland Hall Chinese Programs, which was recognized as the Most Distinguished Chinese Program in the US by the Chinese Language Teachers Association, USA.

Driven by her dedication to promoting Chinese language education, Edens is the Founder and Director of The Oklahoma Chinese Language Institute, an organization committed to advancing Chinese language learning and cultural understanding in the region. As the Director of the HSK Testing Center in Oklahoma, she oversees the administration of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) examinations, playing a pivotal role in assessing and certifying proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.Edens’s expertise extends to language assessment, as she serves as a Rater for the Educational Testing Service, contributing to the evaluation of language proficiency assessments on a national level. Through her tireless dedication and innovative approach to language education, Dr.  Edens continues to inspire students and educators alike, leaving a lasting impact on the field of Chinese language education in the United States.

Alpha Edens' Bio

Moderator

Min Fan

Executive Director of the U.S. Heartland China Association

Min Fan

Min Fan was born in China and studied at Peking University before immigrating to the United States. Continuing her education at the University of North Carolina she earned a B.A. in Art followed by an M.B.A. at the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Min went on to a successful career in the corporate world culminating in her role as the leader of the Ideation and Innovation Practice at Hewlett Packard (HP) Global Corporate Services. Upon leaving HP she joined the startup ecosystem as an entrepreneur and mentor at two Colorado incubators.

From 2018-2019, Min brought her entrepreneur experience and passion for US and China collaboration to the nonprofit sector as the Executive Director/COO of US China Innovation Alliance (UCIA). Over 100 US companies visited China on sponsored trips as a result of her team’s efforts.

Prior to joining the US Heartland China Association, Min launched US China Now, a not-for-profit endeavor, which partnered with a broad spectrum of organizations to build a bridge of understanding across the cultural divide between US and China.

 
 
Min Fan's Bio

NEW HORIZONS: NAVIGATING THE FUTURE OF U.S.-CHINA EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES

April 4th 2024, 8:00 - 9:30 PM EDT

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