China Center Staff
Full-Time Staff
- Director — Dr. Yongwei Zhang
- Assistant Director — Joan Brzezinski
- Training Program Director — Yuedong Zhou
- Assistant Director — Jennifer Wu Dunn
- Training Program Manager — Xue Bai
- Communications Specialist — Kate Sophia
- Administrative Assistant — James Polga
- Training Program Assistant — Qian Li
Dr. Yongwei Zhang , Director
Phone: 612-624-1002
E-mail: zhang837@umn.edu
Dr. Zhang comes to the University of Minnesota from Missouri State University where he simultaneously held multiple positions, including director of international programs and affairs, assistant vice president of research and economic development, and director of university programs in Asia. He was also a professor of geography in the Department of Geography, Geology, and planning.
Joan Brzezinski, Assistant Director
Phone: 612-624-1002
E-mail: brzez001@umn.edu
Joan
Brzezinski began her China experience in 1982, when as a student at Hamline
University, she was selected to participate in a year-long academic exchange
at Peking University in Beijing. Over the last 20 years, Joan has worked
to strengthen U.S.-China exchange in various positions in business and education. She
has worked as a tour director and a business consultant in China and served
as the director of business development for a national association of business.
She joined the China Center in 1997.
Joan speaks Chinese and enjoys her work at the China Center tremendously. She is particularly proud of the China Center's contributions to the developing exchange between Minnesota and China.
In addition to traveling extensively in China, she has also traveled to many places throughout Asia and Southeast Asia. She received a master's degree in international management from the University of St. Thomas.
Yuedong Zhou, Training Program Director
Phone: 612-624-2372
E-mail: zhoux051@umn.edu
Yuedong Zhou joined the China Center in September 2001. Before that, he worked as research associate and China program coordinator at the Institute for Global Chinese Affairs, University of Maryland (College Park) for three years. He has extensive experience in setting up training programs for different Chinese organizations and a wide range of contacts in China.
Yuedong is originally from Sichuan Province in China. Before he came to the U.S., he worked as associate professor in the Department of Biology and Bioengineering at the School of Life Science, Sichuan University, in the city of Chengdu.
Dr. Jennifer Wu Dunn, Assistant Director
Phone: 612-624-5337
E-mail: jdunn@umn.edu
Jennifer
was born and raised in Jilin City, Jilin Province, in northeast China. Her
home province has rich black soil, a beautiful river, and long, cold winters,
just like Minnesota. She went to Beijing for college and graduate school,
receiving her bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature and master's
degree in Applied Linguistics in English. She taught English at the Graduate
School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences before coming to the University
of Minnesota, where she received a Ph.D. in Educational Administration in
2006.
Jennifer joined the China Center in 2002 and has been involved in many projects since then. She is now in charge of scholarships and visiting scholar programs. She advises students, faculty, and business people on China-related issues. She will be more involved in Chinese language education programs.
Jennifer is a translator recognized by the Minnesota Translation Laboratory. She is also an accomplished interpreter, having interpreted numerous presentations and public lectures on various occasions. In August 2005, she accompanied U.S. Senator Mark Dayton as his sole interpreter during a two-week visit to China.
Jennifer is proud of her Chinese background and enjoys using her bilingual
and bicultural skills to help people communicate and collaborate more effectively.
Jennifer is a big racquet games player. She plays badminton, racquetball,
squash, and tennis. She loves hiking and traveling.
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Xue (Mandy) Bai,
Training Program Manager
Phone: 612-626-1768
Email: baixx019@umn.edu
Mandy regards the training program at Minda Institute of Leadership Training an excellent bridge to build collaboration between public, business and nonprofit sectors. She likes to work with Chinese visitors from government, business and academic sectors, and to assist them to meet their Minnesotan counterparts.
Proud of her Inner Mongolian heritage, Mandy was born and grew up in Jiangsu province, China. She received her Master degree in Public Policy from Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, with concentrations on Strategic Leadership and Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Sectors. With a Bachelor degree in English and International Studies from China Foreign Affairs University, she used to work on corporate public relations in Beijing and traveled extensively to North America, South America and Western Europe. As a dynamic skier, she thinks Minnesota is one of the perfect places to live.
Kate Sophia, Communications Specialist
Phone: 612-624-5075
E-mail: kate@umn.edu
Kate Sophia joined the China Center in January 2008. She earned her B.A. in Chemistry and Theater from the College of St. Catherine and is currently working toward an M.A. in Strategic Communication from the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Kate is very excited to work on China Center communications as well as learn more about Chinese language, culture, and geography.
James Polga, Administrative Assistant
Phone: 612-624-0016
E-mail: polg0003@umn.edu
James is a Part-Time MBA student at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. He has been working full-time at the China Center since March of 2006. He is enthusiastic about working for the China Center because he feels it is a valuable opportunity to help strengthen the relationship and understanding between American and Chinese people. In the future he hopes to continue his work linking the U.S. and China in an international business setting.
Qian Li, Training Program Assistant
E-mail: lixxx655@umn.edu
Qian Li is an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Economics. He joined the China Center in March 2008 and holds the position of Training Program Assistant. As an economics major with years of bicultural experiences, Qian has his own understanding of globalization on both cultural and economical fronts. Working at China Center has provided him a platform where he can put what he learned to practice. Through his work at China Center, Qian hopes he can help broaden the communication and deepen the mutual understanding between the Chinese and American people.