Staff

Gao Qing

Executive Director

Gao Qing is the Executive Director of the Confucius Institute U.S. Center, where he has established the Center’s four major pillars of programming – Arts and Culture, Education and Professional Development, Academic and Research, and Public Relations and Outreach. Under his leadership, the Confucius Institute U.S. Center, along with 100 individual Confucius Institutes across the United States, collaborates with other educational and cultural organizations in Washington, DC, and across the country to promote the Chinese language learning, global education and international people-to-people exchange. The Center’s signature programs include the US-China Global Education TV Series and the Confucius Institute National Honors Gala.

He served as the Director of the Confucius Institute at George Mason University (CIMason) from 2010 – 2017, where he oversaw the programming, finance, and operations. CIMason received the “Confucius Institute of the Year” award in 2013. Gao himself received the “Individual Excellence” award in 2012 from Confucius Institute Headquarters. He has chaired panel discussions on the topics of assessment and evaluation, teaching technologies, program development in International Confucius Institute Conferences, and given lectures at Chinese Director Training programs since 2012. He was also a faculty member of Arts Management and Special Assistant to the Dean of College of Visual and Performing Arts for China and Global Initiatives at George Mason University. He developed various collaborative relations between George Mason University and leading Chinese arts, cultural, and educational institutions on philanthropy and arts management, as well as educational partnerships. In addition, he assisted with business development initiatives for investment and trade between East Asia and Virginia. Before joining Mason in 2010, he worked at US-China Policy Foundation – a think tank in DC. He conducted research on Sino-US cultural and political relations, and managed China Materials Service Center for four years. Gao completed his Masters degree from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University and Bachelors degree from the School of Management, Fudan University.

 

Richard Kamenitzer

Chief Financial Officer

Richard Kamenitzer is EMERITUS Program Director & Associate Professor of Arts Management-George Mason University, where he led the graduate program for nine years prior to his retirement in 2013. He has taught at 8 U.S. colleges and universities, as well as 3 Chinese Universities and 6 Korean universities and served as U.S. State Department Cultural Envoy to the Kingdom of Swaziland. He is the 2014 recipient of the Jinx Hazel Award, the highest arts award in Fairfax County, VA. Over his fifty plus year career, he has been a financial and management executive at colleges, universities and private educational institutions and has consulted with dozens of not-for-profit and for-profit entities. He has extensive experience in governance at the board level and currently serves on the board of The First Alliance Foundation, a private, non-operating foundation. He holds honors with national and international organizations, has consulted with the President of the United States on social programs and has led board and management professional development retreats.

 

 

"Working at the CIUS Center has given me an opportunity to turn my passion for travel and cultural exchange into a career! There's nothing better than connecting people across languages, backgrounds, and cultures and realizing that at the end of the day, we aren't so different after all." 

 

 

Cheyenne Boyce

Senior Program Officer

Cheyenne Boyce is a Senior Program Officer at the Confucius Institute U.S. Center. Prior to joining the CIUS Center, Cheyenne worked for and participated in a variety of programs designed to promote cross-cultural understanding and international education. She was a 2017 Critical Language Scholarship recipient and studied Bahasa Indonesia in Malang, Indonesia. Cheyenne was also awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 2015 and served as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Malaysia. As an ETA, Cheyenne founded a Multicultural Club at her school and designed and facilitated a cultural exchange program for her students in Kedah, Malaysia with students from a partner school in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Additionally, in 2016, Cheyenne served as a program assistant for the Indonesia U.S. Youth Leadership Program, which worked to promote peace education and cross-cultural understanding between students from Indonesia and the United States. Cheyenne’s research interests focus on the evaluation and utilization of peace education and cultural exchange programs in communities experiencing post-conflict ethnic tension. Cheyenne received her Master degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University’s School of International Service in 2017 and her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Spelman College in 2014.

"I'm so grateful for this opportunity to use my skills as a writer to tell the stories of these students whose lives have been changed by their experiences with the Confucius Institute. Change begins when we all slow down and take the time to listen to one another's perspectives, and I'm proud to be part of that. 

Megan Greig

Communications and Program Associate

Megan Greig is a Communications and Programming Associate at the Confucius Institute U.S. Center. In May of 2017, she graduated from Allegheny College with a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and a minor in Chinese Studies. During her time as an undergraduate student, Megan focused her studies on language and methods of communication during periods of international conflict. In the summer of 2016, Megan worked as an intern for United States Senator Ben Cardin, who was the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time. The experience offered her a legislative perspective on international relationships and helped to expand her understanding of the delicate nature of the process of cultural exchange. Megan is passionate about using the power of storytelling to resolve conflicts and create more opportunities for accessible global education programs.

“For a large portion of my adult years, China has served as my second home. Working at the Center provides me with the opportunity to be able to add another brick to this home that I've spent so much time living in."

Brandon Ward

Communications and Development Associate

Brandon Ward is the Communications and Development Associate at the Confucius Institute U.S. Center. Brandon recently spent 14 months living in southwest China teaching English at Sichuan Agricultural University via Peace Corps. Prior to teaching in China, Brandon studied for one semester at Sanda University in Pudong, Shanghai. Brandon received his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Mercyhurst University, and his bachelor’s degree in Sport Business Management from Mercyhurst University.

"Working as a program associate at the Confucius Institute U.S. Center gives me the unique privilege to create and facilitate programs that help to foster a love of China and Chinese language learning.  Finding my passion through exploration and travel motivates me to help provide the same opportunities for others."

 

Kayla Raden

Program Associate

Kayla Raden is a Program Associate at the Confucius Institute U.S. Center.  Prior to joining the team at the CIUS Center, Kayla worked as a high school biology and chemistry teacher in both China and the United States.  Upon her return to the United States in 2017, Kayla independently studied Chinese to maintain her connection to China. From there, her love of the Chinese language grew and the more challenging it became, the more she wanted to learn; eventually she enrolled in classes at her local Confucius Institute.  Kayla was recently selected as a 2018 People-to-People Award honoree and attended the 2018 Confucius Institute Alumni trip to Chengdu and Beijing.  On the alumni trip, Kayla decided that she wanted to take her passion for Chinese language and culture and make it into a life-long career.   Kayla earned a B.S. in Agricultural Science, Plant Science from Rutgers University and continues to take Chinese classes and study independently.

"I'm an intern here, at the CIUS Center, which means I contribute to social media, program planning, and whatever else needs to get done! I love my work environment and really feel like what I'm doing matters."

Serena Nangia

Programs and Operations Intern

Serena Nangia is a Programs and Operations Intern at the Confucius Institute U.S. Center. She is a senior at American University studying International Studies and Spanish. Serena founded the first college program of REbeL, a non-profit with the mission of raising awareness about issues such as body image, eating disorders, media awareness, etc. Additionally, she has been a member of the Rotaract Club of American University for almost three years where she has worked with the Rotary Club of Federal City, Washington, D.C. As a young professional graduating in May 2019, she hopes to find her passion and develop her skills in the years to come.