Dr. Yali Zou Receives Global Leadership Studies Endowed Professorship - University of Houston
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Dr. Yali Zou Receives Global Leadership Studies Endowed Professorship

Yali Zou

Dr. Yali Zou, founding director of the Asian American Studies Center (AASC) and professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, has recently received the University of Houston Global Leadership Studies endowed professorship. The AASC was established in 1995 at the University of Houston. It is an interdisciplinary academic institute which provides the students of the University of Houston with academic courses, research opportunities, China study abroad program, and international students and scholars exchange program.

The program serves as a global professional leadership training center which has provided global leadership training for more than 2,000 Asian public officials, educational leaders, and business executives in the past 20 years. The Center offers educational and cultural resources to the Houston community and serves as the academic home for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders students, faculty and community members.

The Global Leadership Studies Professor Endowment is a University level endowment in the amount of $500,000. Funds from this new resource not only recognize Professor Zou’s leadership and contributions to the global leadership studies program, but also provide opportunities to expand current programs and new initiatives.  “We are very proud to accept and utilize these funds to enhance cultural understanding that will lead to a better teaching and learning experience for our diverse student population and prepare future global leaders,” stated Dr. Bob McPherson, Dean of the College of Education.

Dr. Yali Zou has been a professor at the College of Education for over 20 years.  She earned a doctorate in Social and Cultural Foundations at the University of California at Davis.  Zou went to UC Davis with the intention of studying education management and going back to China to work in higher education. However, her experiences with the clash of cultures she encountered led her to change course to cross-cultural studies, a field she finds fascinating. Dr. Zou has published six books about the power of education, immigration issues, ethnic identity and cultural politics as well as cross-cultural and transnational understanding of education.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled by this professorship. I will work very hard with the great team at AASC to ensure continued success of AASC with this generous and invaluable gift.  The AASC is a place where we celebrate our cultural and linguistic diversity and enjoy academic freedom to explore new professional opportunities. The center promotes academic excellence and equity for all through productive partnerships with the local, national and international community”, Dr. Yali Zou remarked.   

To make a contribution to the Global Leadership Professorship Endowment, please contact Brandie Cleaver at 713-743-2333 or via email at bmcleaver@uh.edu