China Center records

The China Center emerged in the late 1970s out of talks between the University of Minnesota and the Minesota business community to develop long term educational and exchange relationships with China.

Pivotal events in 1979 formed the foundation for a China center on campus. A unit coordinating Chinese Studies and educational exchanges was proposed by Fred Lukerman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, to provide intensive seminars on China for university officials and English language instruction and housing services for visiting Chinese scholars. That same year, a "China Desk," precursor to China Center, was formed in the Office of International Programs to coordinate exchanges; the first Chinese scholar to study at the university since the end of the WWII, Zhai Qihui, arrived on campus; and Board of Regents Chair Wenda Moore lead the first University of Minnesota delegation to China. The China Center would grow over three decades to address a range of needs related to scholarly and cultural exchanges, alumni association development, language learning and treacher training.

The Center officially opened in 1982. For a detailed timeline of China Center milestones and activities, go to http://chinacenter.umn.edu/about/history.html

China Center Directors

Mei-Ling Hsu 1980-1985

M. Patricia Needle 1985-1993

David Y.H. Pui, 1994-2000

Dr. Hong Yang 2000-2006

Dr. Yongwei Zhang 2006-2011

Joan Brzezinski, 2011- present