What is the Executive Committee?
Each year, American and Chinese Executive Committee (EC) members collaborate across the Pacific to meticulously plan the China-America Student Conference (ChASC). The conference is entirely student-led, from determining Roundtable topics and recruiting delegates to arranging accommodations and coordinating various programming activities. Throughout the conference, EC members take on dual roles as onsite coordinators and Roundtable leaders, providing guidance to the student delegation. As the conference draws to a close, delegates have the important task of electing their peers to form the next Executive Committee, continuing the legacy as they organize the upcoming year’s conference.
Serving as an EC member is an exceptional leadership opportunity for motivated students seeking to enhance their resumes. It offers a chance to cultivate and develop skills including international team collaboration and event planning by collaborating with public, private, and community partners. The ChASC ECs also receive valuable support from our parent organization, International Student Conferences, Inc. (ISC).
Meet the ChASC5 Executive Committee
Kiran Nieves-Noel
American Executive Committee
East Tennessee State University
Krislyn Massey
American Executive Committee
University of North Texas
Dahlia Townley-Bakewell
American Executive Committee
Indiana University Bloomington
Shu Xin
Chinese Executive Committee
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
About the Team
Kiran Nieves-Noel
Hello! My name is Kiran (Kiwi) Noel! I’m originally from Washington State, however, I recently graduated from East Tennessee State University where I studied International Affairs and Chinese Studies.
My introduction to Chinese culture came as a surprise as I randomly decided to join an introductory Mandarin course in my first year of college. Unexpectedly, I quickly fell in love with the rich culture, language, and history of China. I joined ChASC with hopes of enriching my international relations and political knowledge by developing stronger relationships with students and young leaders who hold similar interests but differing perspectives, and I can wholeheartedly say that my experience with ChASC has achieved that enrichment beyond expectation. ChASC truly illuminates the importance and impact of student to student diplomacy in bridging cultural divides and fostering dialogue between Western and Chinese perspectives on global pursuits, and I aspire to continue that legacy as an EC for ChASC 5.
你好！我是Kiran (Kiwi) Noel。我来自华盛顿州，但我最近毕业于东田纳西州立大学，主修国际事务和中文研究。我对中国文化的了解是一个机缘巧合，因为我在大学第一年随机决定了参加一个初级汉语课程。出乎意料的是，我很快爱上了中国丰富的文化、语言和历史。我加入中美学生会议是希望通过与有相似兴趣但不同观点的学生和青年领袖建立更牢固的关系，来丰富我的国际关系和政治知识。我可以全心全意地说，中美学生会议的经历远远超出了我的预期。中美学生会议真正阐明了学生对学生外交在弥合文化鸿沟和促进中西方在全球事务上的对话中的重要性和影响。我希望作为第五届中美学生会议的执行委员会成员，继续这一传承。
Krislyn Massey
Hi, I’m Krislyn Massey from Houston, Texas! I am a current Masters student at the University of North Texas studying Human Security. I received my B.A. at the same school in National Security and Diplomacy with certificates in Global Studies and Advanced Dispute Resolution!
I joined ChASC 5 because I have always admired the roots of tradition and the extensive history of China. Considering the USA hasn’t yet reached even 300, yet China has over 5000 years of history and culture to examine, it’s always interesting to see the influences of both interacting in the world today!
Additionally, due to my extensive language courses in Japanese, I also enjoy finding the commonalities in kanji used today language-wise and seeing how the branches of language expanded. My favorite ways of exploring Chinese culture are through traditional music and clothing, philosophers, bubble tea, and novels written by Chinese authors! I want to use my knowledge for the betterment of ChASC 5 and create a unique experience for delegates! Let’s make lifelong friendships while engaging in -to-people diplomacy!
哈罗，我是来自德州的Krislyn Massey。我是人類安全北德州大学的碩士學生。我也从北德州大学受到我的国家安全和外交学位，也受到了关于全球学业和高级争议解决的证明。我想要參加中美學生會議，因為我從來都崇拜中國的传统和历史。中国有5000多年的历史，但是美国还没有300年的历史。因此，我觉得中国和美国对现在社会的影响。很有趣。另外，我对汉字和它的历史很感兴趣，因为我学习日语。我最喜欢的探索中华文化的方法就是：传统衣服和音乐、哲学、珍珠奶茶和被华人写的小说！我想要用我的知识提高中美学生会议，而且给中美学生会议的delegates带来难忘经验！我们一起同时当一生朋友并参加人与人之间外交！
Dahlia Townley-Bakewell
Hi everyone! I’m Dahlia, from Memphis, Tennessee (USA.) I am a freshman at Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Chinese. I have been learning Chinese for the past five years through my high school’s Chinese program, and three NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) scholarships, one of which took me to Taiwan for a year to continue my Mandarin studies at an advanced level. As a volunteer English teacher for Project ZMBY, I also added cultural context to my language studies by comparing Chinese and American language and culture with students at Harbin University in China. Learning more about US-China relations has been an increasingly important part of my language learning experience, and ChASC 4 contributed greatly to my understanding of the world and its countries. I am so excited to be an EC for ChASC 5, and I can’t wait to meet you all!
大家好！我叫陶丽雅，来自美国，田纳西州，孟菲斯。我是东亚语言和文化印第安纳大学伯明顿分校的大一学生。通过我的高中中文课与三个美国国务院青少年国家安全语言倡议奖学金，我学了中文学了五年了。其中一个青少年国家安全语言倡议奖学金让我有机会去台北留学留一年。当中美笔友项目教学助手时，我跟哈尔滨大学生讨论并比较中国和美国的语言和文化，这个经验给我的语言学习带来很重要的背景。比较深入地了解中国和美国的关系对我的学习的影响越来越重要，参加中美学生会议让我比较清楚地了解世界和世界中的国家的关系。我很高兴当其中一个中美学生会议执行委员会成员，很期待认识大家！
Shu Xin
I am Shu Xin, a senior at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University majoring in Global Affairs and International Relations. My concentration within this field is on China-U.S. relations and Global Governance. In the future, I aspire to work for Multilateral Development Banks to contribute to improving the welfare of developing countries. Additionally, I have extensive experience in International Youth Communication programs, and I am committed to enhancing communication and understanding between China and the U.S. Outside the classroom, I am passionate about cycling, particularly mountain bike racing. I have competed in the World University Championship cycling, representing Team China. I believe cycling can be a meaningful form of diplomacy, which you will appreciate if you join us at ChASC 5. From now on, I will be in charge of China Affairs within this EC team, see you at ChASC 5!
我叫舒欣，是西交利物浦大学全球事务与国际关系专业的大四学生。我在该专业的研究重点是中美关系与全球治理。未来，我希望能够在多边开发银行工作，为改善发展中国家人民的福祉贡献自己的力量。此外，我在国际青年交流项目方面有丰富的经验，致力于促进中美之间的交流与理解。在课外，我对骑行充满热情，尤其是山地自行车比赛。我曾代表中国队参加过世界大学生锦标赛自行车比赛。我相信骑行可以成为一种有意义的外交方式，如果你加入我们在第五届中美学生会议的活动，你也将会感同身受。从现在开始，我将负责这本届执行委员会的中国事务。第五届中美学生会议见！