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

“The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in US higher education makes a vital contribution to our understanding of the US higher education system. It provides a glimpse of the many opportunities this vast and complex system provides for aspiring leaders with diverse academic/professional backgrounds and cultural heritages. It shares inspiring insights from a group of amazing leaders who overcame great obstacles to achieve remarkable success individually and collectively.” (Dr. Jun Zhao, Journal for Multicultural Education, Vol. 20 (2), April, 2026)

“The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education … stands as both a celebration of achievement and a call to action. It honors those who have broken barriers while reminding us of the work still to be done. As a historical record, it is invaluable; as a roadmap, it invites the creation of new, inclusive pathways responsive to shifting ideologies, evolving definitions of leadership, and the imperative for cross-cultural understanding.” (Dr. Jennie Lou, Chinese American Forum, Vol. 41 (2), October, 2025)

“The book’s narrative-driven approach, which significantly improves its readability, makes it an engaging and enjoyable read, filled with moments of inspiration and insight. ... this volume stands as a celebration of past achievements and also a call to action for building more inclusive and equitable pathways to leadership. For scholars, practitioners, and students of higher education, it is an inspiring and timely resource that underscores the enduring power of education, resilience, and leadership rooted in cultural understanding, purpose, and justice.” (Dr. Tianlong You, Journal of Chinese Overseas, Vol 21 (1), 2025) 

“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.” (Dr. Lisong Liu, American Review of China Studies, Vol. 25 (1), Spring, 2024)

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.