Jan Berris of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Eric Schluessel of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies, and Ryan McElveen and Rosie Levine of USCET inaugurate the USCET Reading Room on September 15, 2025.

A message from USCET's executive director:

As we wind down a busy summer at USCET, we are looking forward to an exciting schedule ahead. These have been uncertain times in U.S.-China education ties, with challenges facing institutions and students. Yet we remain unwavering in our core belief: that education serves as a positive, stabilizing force in nurturing strong bilateral relationships.

This summer, we held our monthly China Connections programs virtually and were delighted to engage with friends far beyond the D.C. area. Our two webinars, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, featured individuals whose lives were transformed by U.S.-China educational ties -- their stories reminded us why this work matters. Seeing both familiar faces and new participants join us online reinforced the desire for connection and dialogue in our community.

Now, as students return to campus and the academic year begins, we are excited to welcome audiences back for both our in-person programming and webinars (more details can be found below). We are also thrilled to have launched our new reading room, featuring a unique collection generously donated by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. This resource represents our continued commitment to public education, promoting the study of China on GWU's campus, and creating spaces for deeper engagement. 

Our fall lineup promises to build on this summer's momentum. We're particularly excited about our upcoming joint webinar series with APA Justice and the Committee of 100, which launches in October. The series will examine the impacts of U.S.-China relations on the Asian American community, drawing a direct connection between foreign policy and domestic experiences. Our China Connections series will continue in October with a program exploring the professional pathways available to students with an interest in China.

This season also brings changes to our team. We're delighted to welcome two dynamic staff members -- Ryan McElveen and Rebecca Jin -- whose fresh energy is already enriching our work. You can read more about their impressive backgrounds below. At the same time, we're saying farewell to Ye Sheng, whose incredible 10-year commitment to USCET has shaped our work and programs. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.

Through all of these programs and transitions, we remain grateful for your continued support and energized by the season ahead.

Best,

Rosie Levine



Announcements



Webinar featuring Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch and Gary Locke

As the first event in the joint webinar series "Global Tensions, Local Dimensions - Navigating the U.S.-China Relationship," APA Justice, Committee of 100, and US-China Education Trust are hosting an online event, "Bridging Nations: People-to-People Exchange in U.S.-China Relations," featuring Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch and Gary Locke in conversation with Jessica Chen Weiss, David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Thursday, October 16,

8:00 PM ET on Zoom

Program highlights

Ambassador Bloch with the Malaysia-America Society at American University

Julia Chang Bloch:

A lifetime in public service

On September 19, 2025, the Malaysia-America Society and the Southeast Asia Student Network (SEANET) co-hosted a talk with Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch at American University’s School of International Service.

Speakers and USCET leadership at the September China Connections event

Profiles of changemakers who shaped China

On September 9, 2025, USCET and the Sigur Center for Asian Studies co-hosted a panel discussion about Chinese changemakers who studied in the U.S. featuring Terry Lautz, Elizabeth Knup, Emily Wilcox, and Scott Tong.

Speakers from two virtual China Connections events this summer

Bridging generations of US-China education exchange

On July 29 and August 19, USCET hosted virtual events on U.S.-China education exchange featuring different generations of American scholars who went to China and Chinese scholars who studied in America, respectively.