China Center Staff
- Director — Dr. Yongwei Zhang
- Assistant Director — Dr. Lili Dong
- Training Program Director — Yuedong Zhou
- Beijing Office Coordinator — Wanling Qu
- Training Program Manager — Xue Bai
- Communications Specialist — Kate Sophia
- Program Specialist — James Polga
- Assistant Translator — Xiaojian Li
- Training Program Assistant — Fang Qin
- Training Program Assistant — Yongling Zhang
- Training Program Assistant — Yajin Wang
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.
Dr. Lili Dong, Assistant Director
Phone: 612-624-1002
E-mail: dongx043@umn.edu
Dr. Dong joined the China Center in October 2009. She received her BA in English Language and Literature from Shanghai International Studies University, her MS in Learning and Instruction from the University of Southern California, and her Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota. Before joining the China Center, Lili worked as the Director of Georgetown University’s Liaison Office in China. Lili is excited about joining the China Center and coming back to her alma mater. She is looking forward to working with her colleagues to serve the University and local communities and to help them and their Chinese counterparts to get to know each other better and work together.
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.
Wanling Qu, Beijing Office Coordinator
E-mail: quxxx010@umn.edu
Wanling Qu has been an advocate of expanded academic, business, and cultural exchange between China and the United States since becoming director of the Freshman Program at the Cultural Exchange College of Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) in the early 2000s. She has earned degrees in International Business and English from SISU, as well as a Master of Arts in Human Resources and Industrial Relations (HRIR) from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Wanling’s professional background includes working for premier institutions of higher education and large corporations in both China and America.
Wanling speaks fluent Chinese and English, and is passionate to develop the Beijing Office into a conduit to rapidly and effectively advance the China Center’s mission.
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, Program Specialist
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.
Xiaojian Li, Assistant Translator
E-mail: xiaoj056@umn.edu
Xiaojian Li joined the China Center right after the Chinese New Year in February 2008. He is currently a doctorate student in the Department of Education Policy and Administration in the College of Education and Human Development. He is interested in research on educational policy and international cultural exchange.
Fang Qin, Training Program Assistant
E-mail: qinxx011@umn.edu
Fang Qin, is a fourth-year graduate student in the Department of History. She is originally from Jiangsu Province and she received her B.A. and M.A. at Nankai University, Tianjin, China. Fang is currently writing her dissertation on urban culture and women studies and is very happy to help more people get to know Chinese culture and history.
Yongling Zhang, Training Program Assistant
E-mail: zhang429@umn.edu
Yongling Zhang is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Policy and Administration department. She obtained a B.A. in history and a M.Ed. in Educational Studies before she moved to Minnesota. Yongling’s professional interests cross various areas of international education, teacher education, civic education and service-learning. She enjoys working for the training program and strives to facilitate communication between Chinese and U.S. higher education institutions. A native of Shanghai, Yongling speaks multiple languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, English and German.
Yajin Wang, Training Program Assistant
E-mail: wang0936@umn.edu
Yajin Wang is currently a graduate student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. She completed her
bachelor degree in Journalism at Peking University, Beijing, China. Yajin came to Minnesota two years ago, and enjoys the Land
of 10,000 Lakes. She is currently working on her thesis in health behaviors. Her research area includes health communication, consumer psychology and advertising. Besides study and work, Yajin has been dancing for more than 10 years.
As a Chongqing girl, spicy food is her favorite!