Meet Beijie Ann Tang, the UC Irvine Long U.S.-China Institute’s new director.

Tang earned her Ph.D. in political science at UC Irvine in 2014 and went on to spend eight years at the Center for China and Globalization, a leading Beijing-based think tank. In her most recent role, as deputy secretary general, she led major policy initiatives, organized high-level international forums and worked across sectors to advance dialogue on U.S.-China relations.

Her own academic training - rooted in political economy and international relations - allows her to analyze how institutions, global trends and domestic politics interact to shape both countries.

 

 

“But I've always believed that impactful research must go beyond the academic sphere,” she says. “It should be translated into actionable insights that guide policy, inform public discourse and help communities make better decisions.”

At the Long U.S.-China Institute, faculty focus on the complexities of contemporary Chinese society, politics and culture. As the new director, Tang will drive research activities and host programs that advance mutual understanding between the U.S. and China while connecting scholars with policymakers, community leaders and the broader public.

The Long Institute's work is organized into 6 key research areas:

• Social movements and social justice
• Domestic and comparative politics, business and law
• Health, science and technology
• Gender, race and ethnicity
• China in the world and the Chinese diaspora
• China as method: researching and writing about China today

Topics reflect the expertise of core faculty coming from social sciences, humanities, law, business and social ecology - disciplines that are engaged in cutting edge research on China and its global role, says Tang.

“I'm especially excited to work with our faculty and our partners to highlight issues of critical importance to both nations and foster deeper understanding of this rapidly evolving relationship,” she says. “In the past decade, I've worked at the intersection of think tanks, government institutions and international business and diplomatic communities to build platforms for dialogue on U.S.-China relations. These experiences show me how essential institutions like the Long Institute are, especially today, when the relations between the U.S. and China are more complex and more consequential than ever.”

Tang’s return to UCI comes at a critical juncture and offers an opportunity for the Long Institute to extend its research, dialogue and efforts to bridge the gap between academia, journalism, policy making, and the general public.

“Returning to UC Irvine is incredibly meaningful to me,” says Tang. “I spent five wonderful years on this campus as a graduate student, and I still have fond memories of learning from brilliant faculty, thriving in a collaborative academic environment and feeling supported by a culture of openness and inclusion. UC Irvine gave me the intellectual foundation and critical skills that guided much of my career – and now it's my turn to contribute.”

What excites her the most about her new role is the opportunity to build on the Institute's strong foundation and help shape its future.

“I see the Long U.S.-China Institute as more than a research center. It's a vital platform for dialogue, engagement, collaboration and impact,” she says. Working alongside faculty director Emily Baum, professor of history, Tang is helping develop academic programming that highlights UC Irvine’s strengths in contemporary Chinese studies and global affairs.

She’s also collaborating with the Long Institute's key supporters - Mr. And Mrs. John Long and Miss Vivian Long - on initiatives that will expand the Institute's brand and influence both within the university and beyond.

Her goal, says Tang, is “to position the Long U.S.-China Institute as a hub where innovative research meets strategic engagement, as well as a place where scholars, students, policymakers and the public can come together to better understand one of the most important relationships of our time.”