The NexGen Global Forum is a Beijing-based research organization founded by the inaugural cohort of the Tsinghua-Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Dual Degree Master’s Program in Global Politics and Economics. Click here to see all other cohorts.
Hu Yuhai
Yuhai Hu graduated in 2024 from the Chu Kochen Honors College of Zhejiang University in China with a major in English and minor in Public Administration. During his undergraduate studies, he received multiple honors, including the Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship, Outstanding League Member, Excellent League Cadre, and Outstanding Student Leader of Zhejiang University.
Throughout his undergraduate years, Yuhai focused on the integration of knowledge and policy practice. As a fellow at the Melton Foundation—a global youth organization—he collaborated with fellows from around the world to carry out various transnational and local initiatives aimed at promoting the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also attended the first South American “Gender and Society” summit in Chile, where he delivered a speech on the challenges of campus gender equality policies.
Yuhai has additionally participated in a series of high-level multilateral economic and trade exchange activities. At the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, he worked to establish and deepen the economic and trade cooperation mechanism among Central and Eastern European RECP countries. With the United Nations Development Programme, he was involved in policy consulting projects to analyze pathways for technological innovation to promote the achievement of SDG 6, “Clean Water & Sanitation.” Yuhai has also held positions at the CITIC Securities Investment Banking Department, the Strategic Investment Department of a central enterprise, and the Government Affairs Department of Tesla. In terms of research experience, he helped to research and build the Database of “Social Organizations and Social Governance.”
Yuhai’s research interests include contemporary Sino-U.S. relations, immigration and international mobility, and social stratification and inequality. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, diving, surfing, and particularly loves to explore cities.
Jiang Zongye
Zongye Jiang holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the Capital University of Economics and Business, having passed both the TEM-4 and TEM-8 English proficiency exams. During his undergraduate studies, he was awarded the National Scholarship, the President’s Scholarship, and the First-Class Academic Scholarship, among other honors. He has had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of California in Los Angeles and the National University of Singapore as a visiting student.
Zongye pursued a diverse set of experiences during his undergraduate years. In his spare time, he engaged in various volunteer activities, including coordinating the vaccination program at his university during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as a volunteer at the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2022, working at the headquarters of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee. Furthermore, he participated in teaching children English at the Soong Ching Ling Center, accumulating over 750 hours of volunteer service.
Zongye is also passionate about integrating his academic knowledge with practical experiences. He has interned at several organizations, including the Center for China and Globalization, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Tsinghua University’s Center for Strategic and Security Studies. These opportunities have fueled his growing interest in international relations research. Zongye’s research interests primarily focus on U.S.-China relations, national security, and international development cooperation.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Zongye enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including fitness, golf, badminton, tennis, and photography. He loves capturing the world around him through his camera. At Tsinghua University, Zongye was selected for the 39th Summer League Training Program and participated in the School of Social Sciences football team. He is also an active member of the Volunteer Services Department of the Graduate Youth League and the International Exchange Department of the Graduate Student Association, where he is committed to contributing to the development of his class and department.
Lai Kun
Lai Kun graduated from the China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (Multilingual International Talents Program), majoring in English, French, and Spanish. During his undergraduate years, he was awarded multiple honors including Outstanding Graduate of the CFAU, Outstanding Thesis of the CFAU, and Comprehensive Development Honor of the CFAU, among others.
As an undergraduate, he participated in various competitions, winning first place in the national finals of the China Mobile Asian Games English Star Competition of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Best Delegate of Shanghai International Model United Nations 2022, and Outstanding Delegate of CFAU Model United Nations 2021. He also has experience hosting competitions, including the Diplomatic Foreign Affairs Etiquette Competition of the CFAU, the 13th Student Congress of the CFAU, and the 3rd National Diplomatic Interpretation Competition. In addition, he is passionate about social practice, and has participated in numerous international and national diplomatic and foreign affairs activities. He volunteered at the 2021 Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the 2021 Beijing International Model United Nations, and the Belt and Road China-Africa Sports Diplomacy Forum. Kun has held internships at the Office of Foreign Affairs Committee of CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee and the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy, where he helped to organize the 2023 “Understand China” International Conference.
At Tsinghua University, Kun is actively involved in social work activities, including serving as class monitor within the Social Sciences department. He is also involved in the Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue, the Career Department of the Social Sciences Graduate Student Committee, and the International Exchange Department of the Social Sciences Graduate Student Union. His research interests include U.S.-China relations, infrastructure in foreign policy, multilateral development banks, and global climate governance.
Lilah Connell
Lilah Connell graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy Studies and Asian Studies. She was selected as one of six students to be inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society in their junior year. As an undergraduate, she was involved in numerous advocacy groups both on and off campus, including supporting access to federal nutrition programs and running voter registration drives.
After graduating, she interned for Albright Stonebridge Group’s China practice, writing weekly memos for clients on China’s political, economic, healthcare, and tech industry developments. She then worked as a Research Assistant at the East-West Center’s office in Washington, DC. In this role she led the coordination and research for a publication on US-ASEAN exchanges through trade, investment, diplomacy, security, education, and tourism. She also co-authored a report on the Quad’s evolution over the last two decades and its current security, diplomatic, and public goods cooperation in Asia. In addition, she contributed to a poll report analyzing American public and elite opinion on US-Asia relations. She also has experience working at a think tank focused on developing bipartisan policy solutions to divisive issues in domestic US politics.
Lilah is currently a first-year student in the Tsinghua-Johns Hopkins SAIS dual degree program. At Johns Hopkins, she plans to pursue the Governance, Politics, and Society focus area. Lilah’s research interests include US-China relations, alliance politics, multilateral organizations, and international political economy. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, running, and cooking.
Miao Xinyue
Xinyue Miao graduated from Lycoming College with a double major in Economics and Business Administration. She was named to the Dean’s List several times. In 2024, she earned a Master of Science in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania. As a student, she actively participated in multicultural student organizations and helped organize the annual Multicultural Awareness Dinner.
Xinyue interned as a curriculum designer at Puentes de Salud, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia. In this role, she developed and implemented educational programs focused on social-emotional learning and English literacy for the Latinx immigrant community. Additionally, she worked as a K-12 project coordinator for a women’s federation in Panzhihua, Sichuan, where she organized and managed student clubs, ran community events, and supported rural “left-behind” children in accessing educational resources. As an intern at the Sichuan Provincial Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, she contributed to poverty alleviation and land auditing efforts, helping to improve the living conditions of impoverished families and raise funds for rural education.
In terms of international volunteer work, Xinyue has participated in several projects. She provided psychological counseling and educational support to left-behind children in rural Sichuan through a volunteer teaching team. Also, she taught English and math to kindergarten students in Sri Lanka and Nepal, helping young children develop social and interaction skills.
Xinyue is currently pursuing a Master of Law in International Relations at Tsinghua University. Her research focus is the intersection of international education and foreign policy.
Rachel Hile
Rachel Hile graduated summa cum laude from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Economics. She is currently a second-year student in the Tsinghua-Johns Hopkins SAIS dual master’s degree program.
While pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS, she has dedicated herself to the focus areas of China and International Economics and Finance. Rachel additionally works as an assistant editor for The SAIS Review of International Affairs and has written a published article evaluating U.S. perceptions of China’s 2001 WTO accession for the journal’s online edition.
Alongside her academic pursuits, her work has included interning for the Louisville Metro Council Government, where she revitalized her local government’s efforts to engage with Sister City relationships. Similarly, during her internship with the World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana, she was at the forefront of organizing collaborative initiatives, meetings, and delegation visits between officials and community leaders from Louisville, Kentucky, and their Sister City counterparts, such as those from Jiujiang, China, and Mainz, Germany.
As a student at Tsinghua University, Rachel has been awarded the International Confucian Association Scholarship. Her courses cover China’s foreign and domestic policy, conflict resolution, and globalization. She aims to continue advancing her research interests in U.S.-China relations, global institutions and enterprise, and the international order.
Wang Yuanzhi
Wang Yuanzhi graduated from The George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He majored in International Business and International Economics and minored in Organizational Science. During his undergraduate years, he was selected for the Dean’s List. Due to his excellent academic performance, he was hired as a teaching tutor for multiple courses for one year. In addition, he just completed one-year of study at the European campus of Johns Hopkins University.
During his time as a student, Wang Yuanzhi participated in various practical activities on and off campus. On campus, he was elected as the Vice President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association of George Washington University during his sophomore year. He later served as the Chinese affairs consultant of the George Washington University Student Government Association. Of campus, he served as a data analysis assistant in the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization, assisting relevant researchers with in-depth studies of decarbonization strategies and the energy transition technologies of various countries. Subsequently, he worked in several multinational companies including Mengniu, COFCO Coca-Cola, Baidu, and Amazon, demonstrating his commitment to researching matters related to brand globalization and brand localization.
At Tsinghua University, Wang Yuanzhi is actively engaged in social work activities and is currently a key member of the Literature and Art Performance Group of the Graduate Student Association and the Culture Department of the School of Social Sciences Graduate Student Association. His research interests mainly focus on overseas cultural exchange, cultural diplomacy, and cultural economy.
Sidi Yang
Sidi graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Danish (Scandinavian Studies). She was awarded a full scholarship by the China Scholarship Council for a one-year exchange in Denmark where she explored the Nordic welfare state system and sustainable development. During her undergraduate years, she was awarded the First-Class Scholarship, Merit Student Award, Social Work Award, Merit Student Organization Leader, Outstanding Graduate, and Outstanding Thesis.
Sidi accumulated work experience in the United Nations, the Energy Group of the Danish Embassy in China, the R&D Department of a wind power company, a green tech NGO, and private equity and venture capital, allowing her to explore China’s energy transition from the public sector, private enterprises, and social organizations. In addition, she worked as a research assistant at the School of International Studies of Peking University, where she analyzed reports from think tanks and international organizations and assisted in building relevant databases.
On campus, Sidi served as the Secretary General of the BFSU Model UN Association, responsible for organizing large-scale conferences and summits, as well as visit and exchange activities at embassies in China. At the same time, she was captain of the BFSU yoga team, responsible for its establishment, management, and training; she led the team to win the first and second prizes at the municipal level.
Now at Tsinghua University, Sidi is the class president of Class 41. In her free time, she enjoys Guqin, swimming, and practicing yoga. Her research interests include energy and climate governance and political philosophy.
Yang Dijingwen
Yang DiJingwen graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) with a double major in Turkish Language and Diplomacy. Her language studies also include Japanese, Macedonian, and Azerbaijani. Yang DiJingwen has received multiple awards, including university scholarships, outstanding student cadres, and a scholarship for an exchange study program at Ankara University in Turkey.
Yang DiJingwen has rich student work experience, which has included serving in the Student Union of BFSU and pursuing her love for music and choral singing as director and conductor of the college choir.
In addition to her contributions at BFSU, Yang DiJingwen has volunteered at the National Stadium for media operation during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the World Youth Development Forum, the Beijing Multilingual Service Center, the Beijing Public Facilities Signage Translation Project, and provided translation assistance to a rescue team and consulate during a devastating earthquake in Turkey. Further, Yang DiJingwen has interned at international organizations, youth non-profit organizations, a central news agency, a sports company, and worked as an interpreter for the Turkish Delegation hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).
Yang DiJingwen’s research interests include Turkish studies, international organizations, and Balkan studies. She is currently a member of the Research Department of Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue and the Research Department of Middle East Association at Tsinghua University. Her hobbies include a cappella, traveling, and tennis.
Yang Hangyuan
HangYuan Yang holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Economics from Boston University, where he earned multiple Dean’s List recognitions and acquired a strong foundation in economic theory and international relations.
HangYuan’s professional experience spans various internships in investment banking, asset management, and research. As an investment banking intern at Golden Stem Capital, he conducted market analysis and stock valuations in the electric vehicle sector. During his internship at China Industrial Securities Research Institute, he applied econometric models to study the impact of state property taxes on income inequality in the United States. In his role at China Galaxy Securities, he assisted in the design of fund products and participated in portfolio preparation for real estate asset securitization. Additionally, HangYuan has volunteered at the Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue, where he further enhanced his writing and analytical skills by focusing on translation and writing in the research department. He is also proficient in data analysis tools including STATA, Python, and R.
With his strong academic background and internship experience, HangYuan has developed a deep interest in international economics and finance, particularly in the context of Asian economies. Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, he enjoys skiing, golf, and is a certified rescue diver, demonstrating his well-rounded approach to life and learning.
Zhu Chenlei
Zhu Chenlei graduated from the China Foreign Affairs University with a major in Languages and International Affairs and a minor in International Economics and Trade. During her undergraduate studies, she was awarded several prestigious scholarships, including the Liang Jiehua Scholarship and the University’s Second-Class Scholarship. She also participated in the interdisciplinary program at the University of Oxford in 2023. She successfully earned the DALF C1 French language certification and served as the Chair of the French Committee and the Chief of the Press Center at the Beijing International Model United Nations, where she was responsible for overseeing academic work.
As an intern with a finance-related media company, Chenlei conducted industry research and edited news articles. She also assisted with event planning for the United Nations’ World Cities Day. Through internships with multiple fund management companies, she gained extensive experience conducting data collection and analysis and producing reports on medical insurance and green bonds. Additionally, she was responsible for drafting case summaries and case statistics and preparing various case-related documents in her role at an international arbitration institution.
Chenlei’s research interests include international development, international organizations, and climate governance. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, photography, and ice skating.