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
Ashleigh Cannon
American Executive Committee
Grinnell College
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。
Ashleigh Cannon
Hello! I’m Ashleigh and I’m a junior at Grinnell College majoring in Anthropology and Chinese language. This year, I am studying abroad at National Taiwan University to study Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese culture and history.
I started studying Chinese 2 years ago when I started my undergrad. Since then, I have learned so much from my classes and my experiences in ChASC 4. Though I am a humanities/social sciences major with little experience in politics or international relations, I believe ChASC greatly contributed to my educational and professional growth and deepened my understanding of current global dynamics. The China-America political and cultural relationship influences many aspects of our lives, and this conference helps to encourage cooperation and fight against ignorance and misunderstanding. As a ChASC 5 EC, I hope to encourage others to each bring their unique perspectives to create a well rounded experience that facilitates mutual appreciation and lifelong friendship.
你好！我是凯诗莉，是格林内尔学院人类学和中文专业的大三学生。今年，我在国立台湾大学留学，学习中文、台湾文化和历史。我从两年前开始学习中文，当时我刚开始读本科。从那时起，我从课堂和第四届中美学生会议的经历中学到了很多。尽管我是人类学与社会科学专业的学生，对政治或国际关系经验不多，但我认为中美学生会议极大地促进了我的教育和职业成长，并加深了我对当前全球动态的理解。中美的政治和文化关系影响了我们生活的许多方面，这个会议有助于促进合作，反对无知和误解。作为第五届中美学生会议的执行委员会成员，我希望鼓励大家带来各自独特的视角，创造一个全方位的体验，促进相互欣赏和终身友谊。
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！