Leadership

Susan St.Denis
Editor-in-Chief

Susan St.Denis has spent much of her life understanding how best to facilitate communication and exchange between the United States and China. For the majority of her academic studies, Susan’s interest has been in the film industry. Her bachelor’s research paper at the University of North Florida centered on the impact of Disney on China’s animation industry, and her first master’s thesis at Florida International University compared American and Chinese cinematic interpretations of the Mulan story. Now undertaking her second master’s in Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy, Susan has dedicated herself to researching the impact of social media on American interpretations of China. As the Editor-in-Chief of TIRR, Susan hopes to establish a long-standing tradition and opportunity for students at Tsinghua to share their work on some of the biggest issues in the international relations community today.

Avery Prewitt
Director of Editorial

Avery Prewitt is a researcher focusing on human rights, conflict resolution, and post-conflict justice. Her academic journey began with dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Communications Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, where she discovered her passion for human rights through volunteering with refugee groups. Currently pursuing her studies at Tsinghua University, Avery is working on research to develop a theory of genocide recognition based on state structure. As the Head of Editorial for TIRR, Avery is dedicated to maintaining TIRR as a platform for students to share their work with the world, fostering academic discourse and showcasing her leadership in the international relations community.

Ezgi Köklen
Director of Events

Ezgi Köklen is a second-year master’s student specializing in Chinese Politics, Foreign Policy, and International Relations at Tsinghua University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Middle East Technical University, Türkiye’s top-ranked university, and further enriched her academic experience through an exchange semester at Myongji University in South Korea, which deepened her interest in cross-cultural diplomacy. During her tenure as President of the Asian Studies Society at METU NCC, Ezgi honed her leadership and organizational skills by organizing seminars and academic panels focused on Asian politics and culture. These experiences have equipped her for her current role as the Events Director for the Tsinghua International Relations Review (TIRR). Currently, Ezgi works as a research assistant at the Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies (ANKASAM), where she conducts analyses on contemporary Asia-Pacific developments and contributes to policy reports. She is proficient in Turkish, English, and Korean, and has basic proficiency in Chinese and Spanish.

Darren Lee
Director of Media

Darren Lee is a student with a passion for learning international policy, their implications and forming compliant business strategies that overlap social, economic and political realms. Darren graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in business administration as a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar where Darren independently conducted an independent supervision investigating the relationship of domestic R&D tax policy in influencing transnational business operations at the University of Cambridge. Having worked in consulting and public accounting throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and London prior to his graduate studies, Darren is now undertaking a master’s in Chinese Politics, Foreign Policy and International Relations, looking to expand his understanding and relationships of the complex global world we live in today.

Editorial Team

Andrea Tosoni
Editor

Andrea Tosoni grew up in Italy from a Chinese mom and Italian father. Around these two cultures he developed academically,  first pursuing a bachelor in international law and politics at the University of Milan,  then choosing Tsinghua for his Master’s. Outside of academics,  he is currently a trainee at the European Union delegation in China,  fostering his role as a bridge between the EU and China.

Pablo Miranda Mendoza
Editor

Pablo Miranda graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Faculty of Law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Since his undergraduate program, his research interests have been diplomacy, international relations and law, and political science, particularly analyzing the geopolitical trends and phenomena in current events. He is currently a master’s student in the Chinese Political and Foreign Policy program of the School of Social Sciences, with a research focus centered on multipolarity, contemporary imperialism and hegemony, and comparative geopolitical history of Asia and Latin America.

Álvaro Tejero
Editor

Álvaro Tejero has a deep and enduring passion for knowledge: how to spread it, create it, and use it for good. He has a broad social science background in philosophy, politics, economics, and journalism. This all merges into his research interest around International Relations. His first bachelor’s thesis empirically analyzed the narrative construction of the 2003 Iraq War’s casus belli. His second bachelor’s thesis focused on China’s international security concepts and initiatives, and their impact on global order. For his master’s in Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy, he is researching IR theory, power and polarity, and the effects of China’s vision for order reforms. In TIRR, Álvaro hopes to help students refine their unique perspectives and produce high-quality work to further establish TIRR as the cornerstone of discussions on global issues at Tsinghua.

Events Team

Lucie Maronna
Events Coordinator

Lucie Maronna has dedicated her academic journey to exploring the intersection of diplomacy, economic development, and China’s global influence. With a dual Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Bayreuth and Beijing Institute of Technology, she has developed a strong foundation in cross-cultural communication and international relations. Fluent in German and English and learning Chinese and Spanish, Lucie is currently pursuing a Master’s in Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy. As Event Coordinator at the TIRR, Lucie is excited to support the journal’s efforts to provide a platform for students to contribute to debates on international relations, security studies, and global policy.

Thanyalak Liamsombat
Events Coordinator

Thanyalak Liamsombat is a Thai student with a passion for ASEAN affairs, East Asian politics, and international security.  While working with the TIRR’s Event Department, she also serves as the Vice President of the Activity Department of the Tsinghua University China-ASEAN Student Association (THUCA) and is a core member of the Research & Project Team of the Tsinghua University Student Association of Belt and Road Initiative (SABRI). Through her undergraduate research project, Thanya examined the linkage between sustainable development diplomacy and the state’s international influence—a topic she delved into during her internships with USAID, the MFA of Thailand, and the Mekong Institute. After graduation, Thanya has gained valuable experience organizing events through her work with the Asia Foundation and a project under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and ASEAN. These roles have inspired her to initiate meaningful events for the TIRR, fostering fruitful dialogue among scholars and students. Thanya intends to create events that serve not only as platforms for academic exchange but also as avenues for cultural interaction. She hopes to craft engaging and enjoyable experiences for all participants while also promoting an understanding of international relations.

Media Team

Yen Sin Khu
Media Coordinator

Yen Sin is a Master’s student at Tsinghua University, specializing in Chinese politics and international relations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from City University of Hong Kong. With a strong interest in China-ASEAN and China-Malaysia relations, Yen Sin has gained hands-on experience as a student intern at the Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong. Currently interning at Public and Government Affairs at Edelman, she focuses on China-U.S. relations and policy research. She is also passionate about exploring different cultures through travel.