I received my Ph.D. in Chinese literature from the University of Oregon in 2007. After graduation, I have taught Chinese laguage and culture in both private and public schools for several years and served as the Academic Director of the Chinese Flagship Program at Western Kentucky Universty before coming to the University of Kentucky.

I have been teaching Chinese for over thirty years at the college level both in China and in the U.S. While directing the Chinese Flagship Program at WKU, I often attended ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Laguages) and CLTA (Chinese Language Teachers Association) conferences and have updated myself with the most recent pedegocial approaches and theories.

In addition to teaching, I am also the director of KIIS (Kentucky Institute for International Studies) China summer program. I often travel back to China or lead study aboard programs to China. While in China, I usually take the opportunity to communicate with Chinese colleagues or conduct research with them. I was invited to give lectures to graduate students studying Chinese literature at Northwest University and Shaanxi Normal University in Xi'an and Nankai University in Tianjin.

Jogging is another passion of mine besides teaching. I usually run 4 to 5 miles everyday in the afternoon. I finished my first half-marathon at the age of 46 and my first marathon at 49. I hope one day I will fun the Boston marathon and the New York marathon.