我们的团队

Gov. Bob Holden
Gov. Bob Holden
鲍勃·霍顿于2001至2005年间担任密苏里州第53任州长。在当选州长之前,霍顿曾担任过两任密苏里州财政部长和三任密苏里州众议员。
鲍勃·霍顿的一生都在为公众服务。除了担任公职,霍顿也曾为州财政部长James I. Spainhower和Mel Carnahan、美国参议员Thomas F. Eagleton和国会议员Richard A. Gephardt效力过。
霍顿州长在任期间,他曾担任中西部州长协会主席;开设了密苏里州在中国的第一个贸易办事处;成立了密苏里州第一个拉美裔外展委员会;将密苏里州在女性领导职位的排名从第41位拉升至第5位;任命了200多名非裔美国人担任重要领导职务;建立了该州第一个青年内阁;并在密苏里州建造了第一座获得LEED认证的州办公大楼。
鲍勃·霍顿目前是美国全球领导联盟(U.S. Global Leadership Coalition)的密苏里州联合主席,同时也是全国有色人种协会(NAACP)密苏里州分会的执行董事会成员。自2005年卸任公职后,霍顿创立了霍顿公共政策论坛,并在韦伯斯特大学担任了10年的教授。在韦伯斯特大学期间,他帮助建立了在密苏里州圣路易斯韦伯斯特大学的第一个孔子学院。
40多年来,鲍勃·霍顿一直是美国退伍军人协会密苏里州孩童项目的积极参与者。在他的领导下,第一批中国学生代表团成为这一历史性项目的参与者。自那第一批代表团的参与,他一直在努力推动中国学生前往密苏里州以及密苏里学生前往中国的学生代表团,并计划发起来自其他州的代表团。
鲍勃·霍顿认为,美中两国的长期经济成就必须建立在相互尊重、明确理解和坦诚对话的基础上。这点可以通过扩大我们的文化联系,创造更多的教育伙伴关系,以及为两国成功的企业铸造机会的桥梁来实现。
Gov. Holden was recently inducted to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame. Watch his honoree video here.

Min Fan
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.

Jason Conley
Jason Conley
Originally from the Heartland, Jason Conley is a graduate of the Ohio State University and has a Master's degree in Advanced Chinese Language and Culture, specializing in the Belt and Road Initiative and foreign investment.
His research background focused on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the ROI of Chinese-backed infrastructure development in western Pakistan.
Before his time at USHCA, Jason spent several years teaching English as a Second Language and Education. He now spends his time working to continue education and engagement of local Heartland communities.

Katherine Newton
Katherine Newton
Born and raised in a small Texas farming and ranching town, Katherine Newton is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in International Political Economies and Chinese Culture and Language. She is currently a student at American University pursuing her MS in International Business. She has published research works analyzing international political and economic organization across East and Southeast Asia. Katherine has worked with a number of nonprofits focused on U.S.-China relations, and is very excited to now be focusing on the Heartland region.

Ellen Wright
Ellen Wright
Brought up in the Midwest and descended from Iowan farmers, Ellen Wright is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Sociology and minors in International Studies and Chinese, and has earned a Master’s degree in China Studies from Zhejiang University. During her graduate program, her thesis work concentrated on China’s national innovation system. Ellen has previous experience working for international nonprofits based out of Beijing and D.C., and is eager to return to her roots and help cultivate the Sino-American relationship in the Heartland region.

Yiliu Cao
Yiliu Cao
Born and raised in China, Yiliu Cao graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a degree in Movement Science. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Doctor of Physical Therapy and Public Health at Northwestern University.
During her undergraduate years, Yiliu had previous experience serving in a leadership role in a student organization focusing on intercultural communication. Thus, she realized the importance of promoting understanding between China and the United States in the globally competitive future. Yiliu is very much looking forward to investigating the Sino-U.S. relationship in the Heartland Region under the scope of healthcare and technology.
Interns

Laura Liu
Laura Liu
Laura Liu is a New York based UX Designer who is dedicated to helping businesses connect with their users effectively. Before that, she worked as a finance reporter at Sina, focusing on international economics and politics. She deeply cares about the relationship between the US and China and is eager to contribute her efforts to improving their connections.
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Amy(Muxue) Liu
Amy Liu
Born and raised in China, Amy Liu graduated from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, with a degree in Diplomacy. She is currently pursuing her MS in Social Policy degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
As a driven individual with an academic background and a deep interest in aligning with USHCA's goal of fostering positive, productive, and mutually beneficial relationships. Amy joined the team to gain practical experience and contribute innovative ideas through a cross-subject perspective. With a passion for collaboration and cultural diversity, she is excited to work with everyone and make a meaningful impact.

Casa (Yudi) Tang
Casa Tang
Casa is a graduate student studying communication at Northwestern University, and she majored in film studies during her undergraduate. With strong interests in digital media marketing and video production, she has developed several real-case marketing campaigns in her master program for brands like Snapchat, LEGO, Niantic Inc., Florasis and Silkspace.
As a passionate storyteller with unique perspective and international experience in digital media production, she is comfortable creating diverse genres of original works in a fast-paced, multitasking working environment. Her career experience both in the States and overseas polished her ability to research materials and pitch ideas in a detailed manner and engage with people from different backgrounds.

Catherine Chin
Catherine Chin
Since she was child, Catherine Chin has been surrounded by Chinese culture thanks to her grandmother being the President of a local Chinese cultural center. This has inspired her to seek a career in China and US relations. Born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Catherine Chin attends Cornell University. She is a double major in China and Asia Pacific Studies (CAPS) and Government. In the future, she plans to work for the government in the foreign affairs sector, focusing on China-US relations. Catherine is excited to work with the US Heartland China Association this summer and looks forward to contributing to the team.

Kazi Raleh
Kazi Raleh
Kazi Raleh is a Chinese major who’s currently studying abroad at National Taiwan University. His research interest is centered around Chinese philosophy and how to build better Sino-American relations. He is really excited to work with USHCA in order to better understand and research the economic ties between the Heartland Region of the US and China.

Catherine Chin
Catherine Chin
Since she was child, Catherine Chin has been surrounded by Chinese culture thanks to her grandmother being the President of a local Chinese cultural center. This has inspired her to seek a career in China and US relations. Born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Catherine Chin attends Cornell University. She is a double major in China and Asia Pacific Studies (CAPS) and Government. In the future, she plans to work for the government in the foreign affairs sector, focusing on China-US relations. Catherine is excited to work with the US Heartland China Association this summer and looks forward to contributing to the team.