UW Chinese Program Director Receives U.S. State Department Grant

University of Wyoming Chinese Program Director Yan Zhang, of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, has received a 2023 U.S.-ASEAN University Connections Initiative grant under the U.S. Department of State’s IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program.

This summer, Zhang, a senior lecturer, will lead a short-term, study-abroad course titled “Multicultural Experiences in Singapore and Malaysia.”

Currently, Zhang has 18 UW students enrolled in the course. She will use the grant funding to support the partnership with the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, located in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. 

Her course will focus on joint international research through diverse classroom activities and community service. UW students will immerse themselves in diverse cultures; gain international experience; and enhance problem-solving and their creative thinking abilities. They’ll also develop a deeper understanding of global issues while becoming researchers, ambassadors and contributors on an international scale. 

“Professor Zhang’s activities at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman will strengthen our university partnership and expose students to a diverse learning environment,” UW Education Abroad Director Shelley Jewell says. “We are so grateful to Professor Zhang for all her hard work and unwavering commitment to growing the Chinese Program at UW. Receiving the U.S.-ASEAN University Connections Initiative grant is another example of her seeking to expand the program’s reach and provide additional student opportunities.”

Zhang was invited to UW to establish the Chinese Program in 2002. She teaches Chinese classes, recruits new students and trains the Chinese professors during the UW summer study-abroad program.

She teaches beginning Chinese, advanced Chinese, business Chinese, a Chinese movie class and a first-year seminar.

During her time at UW, Zhang has received many teaching awards and grants for research, travel and community service, including the John P. Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award; Extraordinary Merit Award for Teaching; Promoting Intellectual Engagement Award; Top Professor Award; College of Arts and Sciences Top Teacher Award; Thumbs-Up Award; and an Arts and Sciences Travel Award.

“I constantly strive to prepare my students to be global citizens,” Zhang says. “I also love meeting new students who love new experiences and new ideas.”

For more information about the course, email Zhang at yzhang@uwyo.edu.