Yang Zhang will conduct research, visit classes in various colleges and departments, and make presentations on and off campus.

Yang Zhang, a Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher, has joined the University of Central Florida community for the 2009-2010 academic year. A native of China, Zhang is visiting the United States for the first time.

“When I arrived, I kept thinking to myself that everything is so neat and clean, and there is so much natural open space,” Zhang said. A Ph.D. candidate at Northeast Normal University in Changchun, she will conduct research, visit classes in various colleges and departments, and make presentations on and off campus.

Zhang was attracted to UCF – and selected it over her other two top choices, Georgetown University and the University of Virginia – for two key reasons. One was UCF’s Stephen Sloan, a pioneer in the field of academic terrorism studies in the United States. Zhang’s main area of research is the evolution of U.S. counter-terrorism policy.

“I knew Dr. Sloan by reputation,” she said, “and I had read many of his books. I am so happy he agreed to be my adviser.”

The other reason was UCF’s Diplomacy Program, headed by Ambassador Harriet Elam-Thomas. Zhang also has a keen interest in the history of U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy.

“I am pleased you have a leading figure from the U.S. diplomacy community and a former ambassador here,” she said. “UCF has so many great resources.”
 
Zhang’s hometown is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeastern part of China. Its population is approximately 7.5 million. She began studying English at the age of 13, and she looks forward to the opportunity to practice it here. She also speaks a small amount of Japanese. Zhang has an undergraduate degree in history and a master’s degree that focused on U.S. policy toward Tibet.

Zhang’s parents, both retired, once worked as coal miners. Her younger brother is also a college student. She heard about the Fulbright program from some of her professors – all of them former Fulbright scholars – and decided to apply.

The first formal point of contact for Fulbright at UCF was John C. Bersia, special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives. Arrangements were made for her to be based jointly in the Global Perspectives Office and the UCF Department of Political Science.

“This is truly a wonderful opportunity for UCF and its international undertakings,” Bersia said. “That a Ph.D. candidate in China learned about our programs and developed an interest in conducting research here is an indication of the university’s growing global reach and reputation.”

“Her presence at UCF furthers the goal of incorporating international perspectives into our work on globalization and its implications, including terrorism and American foreign and security policy,” added Roger Handberg, chairman of Political Science. He also said Zhang’s research will make her an asset and resource for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Political Science and Global Perspectives, through their joint Kurdish Political Studies Initiative, India Program and China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Program, had already been expanding opportunities for students at all levels. Zhang’s program complements those efforts, said Peter Panousis, dean of the College of Sciences.

 “Zhang's presence here further highlights UCF’s and the College of Sciences’ increasing engagement in international research and education,” Panousis said.
 
Zhang fully concurs. She could not wait to get started and reported to work a week earlier than anticipated. She has also attended some classes, including one on Coercion in International Politics and another on The Contemporary International Politics of Asia.

This week, she participated in her first Digital Video Conference with top officials from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., who were briefing UCF students, faculty and staff on Asian security and economic issues. Zhang was especially pleased to have the opportunity to ask the final question about future prospects for a U.S. relationship with North Korea.