Dr. Yongwei Zhang
Dr. Yongwei Zhang has been named director of the University of Minnesota China Center and will begin his new position on July 1, 2007.
Biography
Dr.
Yongwei Zhang comes to the University of Minnesota from Missouri
State University (MSU), 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 professor of geography in
the Department of Geography, Geology and Planning. He was also
the chairman of the Joint Management Committee at the MSU-LNU College
of International Business, MSU’s branch campus built in cooperation
with Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China.
Originally from Jilin Province in northeastern China, he received his B.S. in 1982 and M.S. in 1984 in geography from Northeast Normal University in Changchun, China, and a Ph.D. in 1990 in geography with a concentration in natural resources planning and management from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He was previously an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at Valparaiso University in Indiana (1990-93).
As director of International Programs and Affairs (IPA), Dr. Zhang’s was in charge of all study abroad programs, exchange agreements and other international education relationships. IPA also provides support services for international faculty, manages Fulbright activities, and administers all international academic programs. He played a significant role in the recent negotiation of an agreement between MSU and Tsinghua University, allowing MSU to offer its MBA degree program at Tsinghua.
As assistant vice president of research and economic development, Dr. Zhang was the chief administrator for MSU’s branch campus in Dalian. He served as its executive director and later as chancellor from 2000 to 2005. The campus offers an associate of arts degree, a B.S. degree completion program, and an extensive ESL program. The China program is financially self-sustainable, with enrollment reaching 900 this fall and tuition revenue expected to exceed 20 million Chinese Yuan this year. The program has paid for MSU faculty to teach at the campus and today the campus has become a base for MSU in facilitating various study-in-China programs organized by academic departments. It has also served as a catalyst for international economic cooperation for the business community. Through MSU’s China connection, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has formed a close partnership with its counterparts in Dalian, Liaoning Province, and Zhengzhou, Henan Province. The Chamber has organized annual trips over the last several years to China through the branch campus.
Dr. Zhang has strong administrative, interpersonal communication, and conflict management skills. He was the acting head of the Department of Geography, Geology and Planning (1999- 2000). Serving in that position in a department with 26 full-time faculty members, Dr. Zhang has gained knowledge and experience that enable him to conduct business and direct operations in a professional and effective manner. Since 2000, Dr. Zhang has been heavily involved in the hiring and supervising of more than 100 individuals from the U.S., Canada, and other English speaking countries to teach at the branch campus.