The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps

This book is a collection of stories and reflections that represent Chinese American leaders and depict their tortuous journeys in U.S. higher education that comes at a critical point in time. Many books have been devoted to academic leadership, but this volume uniquely focuses on subjects most relevant to Chinese Americans. We live at a time that not only witnesses an increase in Chinese American leaders on U.S. campuses but also mounting incidents of discriminatory treatment of this group. This book showcases 36 stories and reflections from past, present, and future leaders, including the five previously published stories. They represent leaders holding different ideological values in various academic fields, positions, stages of careers, professional trajectories, generations, Chinese ethnic groups, and geographical locations. The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education makes a valuable contribution to the body of literature that has assisted countless academicleaders in navigating their careers, bringing to the forefront a distinct group of academic leaders who have been underrepresented.

“Combining intellectual depth, multidisciplinary breadth, and accessible storytelling, this book will be an informative and unforgettable read for a broad audience interested in higher education, US-China relations, and Asian American history. … This book provides both the roadmaps that show the path forward and the stories that warm our heart and strengthen our will to embark on that path.” (Lisong Liu, American Review of China Studies, Vol. 25 (1), Spring, 2024)

“The stories are compelling, moving, and inspiring. The book is a timely publication that enhances the visibility of an important aspect of Chinese American contributions to the U.S. society despite hardships and systemic racism.” (Min Zhou, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Sociology & Asian American Studies, UCLA)

“These Chinese Americans are role models of present and future generations of leaders. They have brought a unique leadership perspective from their cultural backgrounds and are dedicated to the success of students. I have personally benefited from their wisdom and advice at the crucial moments of my own career.” (Ming Tung "Mike" Lee, Ph.D., President, Sonoma State University, 2016 Recipient of Chang Lin Tien Leadership in Education Award)

“The 'bamboo ceiling' is pervasive but not impenetrable. The authors' personal reflections and professional insights will inspire Chinese American readers, as well as members of diverse communities everywhere. This bookis a groundbreaking contribution to the fields of cross cultural leadership development and ethnic studies.” (Jenny J. Lee, Ph.D., Interim Vice President of Arizona International and Dean of International Education, Professor of Higher Education, University of Arizona)

Dr. Honggang Yang served in 1999–2020 as dean for the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Nova Southeastern University. Earlier in the 1990s, he was on the McGregor School of Antioch University faculty, chairing the individualized graduate program in conflict resolution. He also had the honor of serving as Research Associate and Internship Coordinator for the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Presidential Center of Emory University. He served on the Editorial Boards of American Review of China Studies, Conflict Resolution Quarterly, and Lexington Book Series for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Asia. Dr. Yang is a senior advisory editor of Peace and Conflict Studies, past president and co-founder of the Council of Chinese American Deans & Presidents, and co-founder of NSU’s Council for Inclusion and Diversity. He received the 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Anthropology at USF, the 1998 SOCHE Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education, the 2002 NSU Academic Dean of the Year in Student Life Achievement, and the 2021 Innovative Leadership in Higher Education Award from the Florida Distance Learning Association. He co-edited with Dr. A. Wolfe Anthropological Contributions to Conflict Resolution. He was bestowed Dean and Professor Emeritus in 2021.

Dr. Wenying Xu is a Professor of English at Jacksonville University in Florida. She received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Pittsburgh specializing in 19th-century American literature. She has taught American Literature, Multiethnic Literature of the United States, World Literature, and Literary Theory at Truman State University, Sichuan University in China, Florida Atlantic University, Xiamen University in China, Chatham University, and JacksonvilleUniversity. She is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, fiction, poetry, and scholarly books including Ethics and Aesthetics of Freedom in American and Chinese Realism (2003), Eating Identities: Reading Food in Asian American Literature (2008), and Historical Dictionary of Asian American Literature and Theater (2012 & 2022), whose 2nd edition was chosen by the Library Journal as the Best Reference Book of 2022. She has served in such leadership roles as Department Chair, Ph.D. Program Director, Associate Dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and President of the Society for the Study of Multiethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS). Additionally, she is the recipient of many honors, including a senior Fulbright Lectureship to China, the MELUS Award for Lifetime Achievement, Arthur Vining Davis Fellow for Aspen Ideas Festival, Readers' Choice Award for fiction from Prairie Schooner, and Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship.