“Unquestionably the single most important impact on my personal and professional life.”
Current Fellows in Education, Health, and Arts
Education
Yale-China Fellow at Xiuning High School
From a town of less than 2,000 people in rural Tennessee, Elijah graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Philosophy. At Yale, he debated as a member of the Conservative Party of the Yale Political Union and conducted research on South Asian telecommunications infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. While in Xiuning, Elijah is excited to hike Huangshan and try the region’s famous white tea. After the fellowship, Elijah will conduct financial research for an international law firm, hoping to specialize in sovereign power creditor-debtor disputes.
Yale-China Fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Aimee is a proud second-generation Chinese American who grew up between New York City and Connecticut. She graduated from Yale in 2025 with a B.A. in History. Her senior thesis explored NATO’s Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS), a pioneering initiative launched in 1969 to address global climate and social issues. Aimee has previously interned at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and with International Bridges to Justice in Geneva, Switzerland. At Yale, Aimee served on the board of the Yale Undergraduate Piano Collective, worked as an Alumni Researcher for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, mentored through IRIS, edited for the Yale Undergraduate Law Journal, and volunteered with the Yale New Haven Hospital’s Living History Project. Her semester abroad in Sweden was pivotal in sparking her interest in teaching, where she served as an English teaching assistant at a local high school. Aimee is thrilled to have the opportunity to live and serve in her grandparents’ hometown, where she looks forward to learning Cantonese, exploring the chamber music scene, and immersing herself in Chinese culture! In the future, she hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of international law and policy.
Yale-China Fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Cheryl graduated from Yale University in 2024 with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. She studies biology because it’s a steadfast reminder of the things that make us similar and human. At Yale, Cheryl carried this belief in human dignity through all of her pursuits, including her service as a First-Year Counselor, leadership of the Yale Community Kitchen for the local food-insecure population, and engagement with climate change research and policy. As the daughter of first-generation immigrants, Cheryl cannot wait to embrace the CUHK community and work in education: engaging with the very systems that gave her parents the opportunity for a better life. She's also particularly excited for the hiking scene in Hong Kong!
Yale-China Fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Arantxa (she/her) graduated in May 2025 from Yale University with a degree in English Literature and an Advanced Language Certificate in Mandarin Chinese. At Yale, she served on the English department’s student advisory board, acted as the Yale Chinese Language and Career Initiative’s Director of Events and Speakers, co-chaired Yale’s only Peruvian cultural group, worked as one of two Timothy Dwight (TD) Chief Aides, and mentored underclassmen as a TD First-Year Counselor. Arantxa was also involved in the New Haven community as a Yale-China New Haven Public Library Senior Fellow and an intern for New Haven Reads. Outside the classroom, Arantxa loves taking long walks, sketching, trying new coffee shops and baking with her friends. She is looking forward to starting a career in education, and cannot wait to meet CUHK and all its wonderful students!
Nathan Taft Fellow at Yali High School
Annette is from northern New Jersey and graduated from Yale in 2024 with a B.A. in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration. Her academic work focused on the intersection between immigration, race, and gender, with particular focus around Asian American communities. She has previously worked at the Federal Public Defender’s Office of Connecticut and on Capitol Hill. At Yale, Annette served as the Co-President of the Yale Women’s Leadership Initiative and the Co-Secretary-General of Yale Model United Nations Korea, where she led a high school international Model U.N. conference in Seoul. She has also volunteered for Bridges ESL, providing small-group English tutoring to immigrants and refugees in the New Haven community. Outside the classroom, Annette enjoys playing golf, listening to music, and exploring new restaurants and cafes with friends. Annette is excited to join the Yale-China community and build strong relationships with students and teachers, all while immersing herself in the language and culture for the next two years.
Yale-China Fellow at Xiuning High School
Born in Wyoming and raised between Maryland and Pennsylvania, Harrison graduated from Yale in May 2024 with a B.A. in Humanities and Economics. His academic work focussed on political theory. On campus, he debated in Yale’s Political Union and hosted dinner conversations with the Shabtai society. Off campus, he researched and worked in politics, law, and education. He interned for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was a Political Studies Fellow at the Hudson Institute. In 2022, he and his best friend at Yale co-founded a liberal arts summer academy in Jeju, South Korea. In the summer of 2024, they operated the academy in New Haven, hosting 25 international students. Harrison loves mountaineering, landscape drawing, architecture, and film. In Xiuning, Harrison looks forward to crafting formative relationships with his students, hiking Huangshan, and learning the life of southern Anhui.
Yale-China Fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hailing from New Rochelle, New York, Sam graduated from Yale University in 2023 with a combined B.A./M.A. in East Asian Studies and a proficiency certification in Modern Hebrew. Sam’s studies focused on Chinese anthropology and the interaction between law and family structures, culminating in a thesis on educational rights and obstacles for migrant youth in Shanghai. Sam has a long-term interest in China-studies and Chinese language(s): inside and outside Yale, he has studied Mandarin for 12 years and Cantonese for 2 years, in addition to Classical Chinese. While at Yale, Sam gained deeply from leadership in Community Health Educators, Accent Multilingual Magazine, Yale Interpretation Network, as well as the Slifka Center for Jewish Life, where he served as Hillel co-president; additionally, he exercised his love for singing as a baritone in the Yale Russian Chorus and the vocalist for the Yale Klezmer Band. After graduation, Sam pursued an LLM degree in China Studies, Law and Society track, at Peking University’s Yenching Academy, where he undertook an ongoing research focus on the interaction between Common Law and Civil/Continental Law in the Hong Kong legal system.
Sam is looking forward to integrating himself with the CUHK community, playing lots of mahjong, and taking in all that Hong Kong society has to offer. He is ecstatic to continue his studies of Cantonese (especially through song!), and cannot wait to cultivate an inviting classroom atmosphere for growth. Fluent in two of the three spoken languages of the S.A.R. and currently working to learn the third, Sam is excited to employ and broaden his cross-cultural knowledge while working to help his students succeed inside and outside of the classroom.
Doug Murray Fellow at Xiuning High School
Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Isaiah graduated from Yale in 2025 with a B.A. in Linguistics and a certificate in Chinese. Academically, he is interested in how people use ideologies about language to construct social meaning, particularly in relation to the construction of ethnicity and place in contemporary Taiwan and China. At Yale, he worked on research projects investigating the semantics of indigenous Australian languages and producing documentation materials for Loma, a language spoken in Guinea and Liberia. He is also an enthusiast of nature and music, having served as a leader for Yale’s First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips and co-chaired the Yale University Guild of Carillonneurs. Isaiah is excited to learn to appreciate both the beauty and challenges of teaching and life in Xiuning County over his two years in China. He hopes that he will be able to transform his love for the entanglement of language and culture into meaningful and horizon-broadening experiences for Xiuzhong students. After serving as a Fellow, he plans to continue learning about the Sinophone world by pursuing graduate studies in anthropology.
Yale-China Fellow at Yali High School
Joe Thames grew up all his life in the town Derry, Ireland. He graduated from Yale with a B.A. in History and an Italian language certificate in 2025. At Yale, he was a Peer Liaison and the Engagement Fellow for the Office of International Students and Scholars along with working in the Admission’s Office. He was also an archivist at National Museums Northern Ireland back home. He speaks three languages proficiently, two conversationally, and hopes to add Mandarin to the list.
Having written his thesis on westerners in China, and having worked in international student education administration outside the classroom, Joe’s interest in cultural exchanges led him to this fellowship. In Changsha, he’s excited to visit the Hunan Museum and live in a large, ancient city for the first time. He hopes to interactively teach about both US and Irish culture, maybe even through traditional sport like Gaelic football.
Yale-China Fellow at Yali High School
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Giri graduated from Yale with a B.A. in Global Affairs, a certificate in Global Health Studies, and as a Yale Journalism Scholar. His academic work focused on global health policy, science communication, and amplifying healthcare access among the world’s most neglected populations. Outside the classroom, Giri performed worldwide as a tenor with the Yale Spizzwinks(?), directed photography and science coverage for the Yale Daily News, served as an education counselor for the HAVEN Free Clinic, researched the cost-effectiveness of prescription medicines, mentored TD first-years as a FroCo, and served as a patient navigator for Afghan refugee families. As a student-journalist, he also spent two years reporting for CNN, covering breaking medical news for its healthcare unit, and as a production intern for Fareed Zakaria GPS, the network’s flagship global affairs program.
After the Fellowship, Giri aspires to a career as a physician-writer. In the meantime, however, he is excited to return to his roots as an educator: before college, Giri spent a year serving as an AmeriCorps member and STEM educator during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, when he’s not teaching, you’ll find him brushing up on his Mandarin, strumming his guitar, and scootering around in search of Changsha’s finest vegetarian cuisine.
K.C. Li Fellow at Yali High School
Adam grew up in Avon, Connecticut and graduated from Yale in 2024 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He spent his summers at Yale doing computer science systems research and software engineering internships. Adam's decision to join Yale-China represents a pivot from a path towards software engineering in order to lean into his passion for teaching. Adam is eager to translate his time teaching computer science classes and swim lessons into an enthusiastic and engaging classroom at Yali.
At Yale, Adam swam on the varsity swim team, sang in the Unorthojocks a capella group, broadcasted for Yale radio, and found a love for cooking. He is excited to nurture his cooking skills in Changsha and is hoping that cooking can be a vessel for cultural engagement and language learning upon joining the Yale-China community. He is excited for the vibrant culture of Changsha and is hoping to continue to engage with making and consuming music as he learns more about Chinese culture. If he's lucky, he might even find a pool to spend some time in during his stint in China.
Yale-China Fellow at Xiuning High School
Originally born in Chongqing, Peter grew up in Vancouver, Canada and graduated from Yale University in 2025 with a B.A. in Ethics, Politics and Economics. His academic work explored the intersection of law and political economy and his thesis focused on inequalities within the international commercial arbitration system. Peter also worked at the Yale Economic Growth Center on development economics research. While at Yale, he served as a FOOT leader, Co-Captain of the Yale Club Swimming team, President of Yale Chi Alpha, and was passionately involved in playing the Harkness bells as part of the Guild of Carillonneurs. In Anhui, he is excited to share with his students his love of creative writing and the outdoors, and learning much from them in return. After the fellowship, Peter will be matriculating at Harvard Law School through the Junior Deferral Program, and is grateful and excited to spend these deferral years forming meaningful relationships with the community in Xiuning!
NHPS Language Fellow at Metropolitan Business Academy
Anna Lehman is a sophomore in Yale College hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, and majoring in Global Affairs and East Asian Studies. She joined Yale-China in 2024 as a New Haven Public School Fellow, teaching Mandarin at the Metropolitan Business Academy for the 2024-2025 school year. At Yale, Anna also participates in a cappella as a singer in the New Blue, Yale’s oldest female undergraduate organization, as Staff Director for the Yale Record, the nation’s oldest humor magazine, and as a tour guide at the Yale University Art Gallery. Her interest in the Chinese language stems from her early childhood, and she has been lucky enough to have studied abroad in Hsinchu, Taiwan through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) in 2022, and as a Light Fellow in Beijing, China in 2024.
NHPS Language Fellow at Co-op High School
Devin is a first-year student at Yale College. Although currently undecided, he has interests in Economics and Political Science. Originally hailing from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Devin now calls the neighborhood of Flushing, Queens his home. He is passionate about making a difference in his community, and is interested in a career in education. In his free time, Devin enjoys playing soccer with his suitemates, and listening to podcasts.
Devin is excited to be a NHPS Language Fellow, and help students discover and explore the nuances of Chinese language and culture.
NHPS Language Fellow at Worthington Hooker School
Anna is a senior in Timothy Dwight College majoring in Political Science with a certificate in Chinese. Growing up in a Cantonese household in Boston, Anna is passionate about building awareness through intercultural exchange and dialogues. On campus, she is heavily involved with the Yale Chinese Language program, serving as a research assistant on a new L5 Chinese course taught in Spring 2025. She spends her time coordinating events for the Ancient Chinese Traditions Club and working on bilingual Theater Productions with Yale Vermillion Theater. Anna enjoys exploring botanical gardens, performing tea ceremonies, and cooking with her friends.
New Haven Free Public Library Senior Fellow
Arantxa is a senior in Yale College studying English and East Asian Studies with a concentration on China. Outside of serving as a NHFPL Fellow, she works as a residential college aide, facilitates English conversation groups at the Office of International Students & Scholars, and translates for the Law School. As a past English learner, Arantxa's love of the library began in childhood, when she spent hours devouring library books and immersing herself in American culture at her local library. She is a non-native Mandarin speaker but enjoys learning languages alongside her English and East Asian Studies classes at Yale. When she has free time, Arantxa enjoys going on long walks, cooking Peruvian food, or discovering her next favorite book.
New Haven Free Public Library Senior Fellow
Lynn Lee (she/her) is a senior from Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea majoring in History with certificates in Chinese and Education Studies. At Yale, Lynn is heavily involved with Yale Model United Nations Taiwan and the Communication and Consent Educators program. She also serves as a Chinese Language Representative for the Richard U. Light Fellowship. In her free time, Lynn enjoys exploring new running trails and catching up with old friends over coffee.
New Haven Free Public Library Fellow
Jessica is a sophomore from Chicago, Illinois studying Statistics and Data Science at Yale College. Outside of classes, Jessica is the Director General of Committees for Yale Model United Nations Europe, Under-Secretary-General of General Assemblies for Yale Model United Nations held on campus, and President of the Yale Sustainable Consulting Collective. In her free time, she works at Yale’s social science library, enjoys rhythmic gymnastics, plays the piano, and watches Chinese TV shows and movies.
New Haven Free Public Library Fellow
Ivana is a senior in Yale College majoring in Global Affairs with certificates in Advanced Mandarin Chinese and Education Studies. She is from the Dominican Republic, and started studying Mandarin when she arrived at Yale to explore her Chinese heritage. Ivana is involved at Yale as the Head Mentorship and Training Guide for the Yale Tour Guide Program, Director-General of Operations for Yale Model UN Europe, Publicity Director for Yale Danceworks, and Co-Chair of the Senior Class Council Planning Committee. Ivana loves singing with her two acapella groups, Mixed Company and Whim n Rhythm, film photography, and fashion.
Arts
2024 Yale-China Resident Artist
Jennifer Yuqing Cao (曹语晴) is a first-year MFA scenic design candidate at Yale David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. Based in NYC and China, her work in theater and dance as an international artist focuses on the possibilities of space and storytelling. She believes that her design on stage does not act as a still supplementary but as a crucial and active participant in the narration. Selected works including Once 一场 (China National Tour) as the set designer, costume designer, and production stage manager; Set Design for Here’s a Blue Morpho For You (NYU CSSA GALA), The Comedy of Errors (NYU Tisch NSB), My Heavenly Favorite (assistant scenographer, International Theater Amsterdam).
More about the designer: https://jenniferyuqingcao.com/
Health
2025 Chia Health Fellow
Gang Gan graduated from the Nursing Master's Program jointly established by Central South University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She currently works as an emergency department nurse at the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, with six years of clinical experience. Her research focuses on workplace violence prevention in emergency departments and psychosocial interventions for elderly patients. In leisure time, she engages in travel, physical training, and voluntary public welfare activities.
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joanne Iennaco, Professor of Nursing at the Yale School of Nursing
• Fellowship Topic: "Developing a Digital Problem-Solving Therapy Intervention to Alleviate Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Solitary Elderly in Western Hunan"
2025 Chia Health Fellow
Xueling Xiao is an Associate Professor at the Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University. Her research centers on promoting health-enhancing behaviors and understanding their psychosocial underpinnings, with a particular focus on populations at risk for HIV and individuals living with HIV. With a sustained commitment to public health, she has designed and evaluated innovative online training programs aimed at increasing the uptake of healthy behaviors. As an educator, she is also dedicated to integrating innovative digital tools into nursing education to cultivate students’ logical reasoning and critical thinking skills.
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. LaRon E. Nelson, Independence Foundation Professor of Nursing at the Yale School of Nursing
• Fellowship Topic: “Exploring Older Adults’ Preferences for Advanced Digital Agents in HIV Risk Reduction”
2025 Yale-China Health Fellow
Rufei Duan is an Associate Professor and public health medical doctor in Yunnan Cancer Hospital, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University. She obtained her Ph.D. from Peking Union Medical College (Tsinghua University School of Medicine) and finished her postdoctoral research in Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on cancer epidemiology and population prevention and control, including epidemiological studies, screening strategies, risk prediction, and comprehensive prevention and control of cervical, breast and lung cancer. She has published eight research papers as the first author. Rufei is also a recipient of government subsidies and research funding in support of high-level talent in Yunnan.
• Faculty mentor: Dr. Hermine Poghosyan, Associate Professor at Yale School of Nursing.
• Fellowship topic: "Study on appropriate community-based cervical cancer screening and management model in rural Yunnan".
2024 Chia Health Fellow
Jing Li is a dedicated healthcare professional with an extensive educational background and a wealth of career experience. Since 2016, she has gained substantial clinical experience at Xiangya Hospital Central South University. Additionally, she serves as a Research Assistant at the "Mobile Health" Ministry of Education-China Mobile Joint Laboratory. Jing Li's career has consistently focused on nursing informatics research, demonstrating outstanding professional skills and dedication. She has published 12 professional papers in academic journals, obtained 3 national invention patents, and secured 1 provincial-level research project.
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhao Ni, Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Nursing; a faculty lead of the Yale Office of Global Affairs & Planetary Health and serves as the Director of International Academic Partnerships and Programs.
• Fellowship Project: “Development and Application of a Visualization Tool for Capability Assessment of Community-dwelling Elderly.”
2024 Chia Health Fellow
Tieying Qiu was born in Yunnan and graduated from Sichuan University and Central South University. She is an Associate Professor of Nursing in the spinal ward at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. She has worked for ten years as a clinical nurse. Her research interest is diabetes, metabolism disease and spinal diseases in elderly patients. She published several academic articles with diabetes and spinal disease. In spare time, she is into doing some adventure exercises, such as hiking, bike riding, and mountain climbing.
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Soohyun Nam, Associate professor in Yale School of Nursing, is focused on the Adult-Gerontological, Family Nurse Practitioner specialty and PhD program.
• Fellowship Topic: “Application Evaluation of Resistance Baduanjin Exercise Program for Elderly Patients with Osteoporosis and Lumbar Disc Herniation.”