— Curtis Dean Smith
Curtis Dean Smith teaches all levels of Chinese language,
literature, and culture. His research focuses mainly on the eleventh
century literatus Su Shih, but his interests range from the literature
and philosophies of the Chinese Warring States period (5th Century BC)
to the Northern Song dynasty (12th century AD). Smith received his
Ph.D. degree in Chinese language and literature from National Taiwan
Normal University, becoming the first Westerner to do so. During his
time in Taiwan, he developed a deep interest in Chinese tea. Smith is
the coordinator of Grand Valley’s East Asian Studies program.
— Jane Toot
Jane Toot, former dean of the College of Health Professions
and current Honors College professor, is an expert in eastern
medicine. She was instrumental in developing a partnership between
Grand Valley and the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, in Beijing,
which is the designated hospital for Olympic athletes and the press
corps. Toot has led many study abroad trips to Beijing.
— Peimin Ni
Philosophy professor Peimin Ni is an expert in Chinese and
comparative philosophy. He is a founder and former president of the
Association of Chinese Philosophers in America. He serves as the
editor-in-chief of the ACPA book series on "Chinese and
Comparative Philosophy." He is also the founder and the former
director of GVSU's China study abroad program and has led many groups
of students to China. Ni is also an accomplished Chinese calligraphy
artist. Some of his works are part of the permanent collection of
GVSU, and can be seen in Lake Superior Hall and the Alumni House at
the Allendale campus as well as in the DeVos Center at the Grand
Rapids campus. He can address Chinese philosophy, religion, popular
culture, recent history, language, calligraphy art, and issues related
to Tibet
— Geling Shang
Geling Shang is an assistant professor of philosophy. His
main interests are Taoism, Buddhism, and the history of Chinese
philosophy and religion. Shang is the co-director of GVSU's China
study abroad program.
— Yosay Wangdi
Violent protests over Chinese rule in Tibet broke out this
year as Tibetan political and spiritual leader the Dalai Lama warned
of “cultural genocide.” Assistant professor of history Yosay Wangdi is
a second-generation Tibetan born outside of Tibet in India who calls
the current situation “very worrisome.” Wangdi earned her Ph.D. in
history from the University of Nevada, Reno. She joined the history
department at Grand Valley in 2003. Wangdi was honored as the first
female Tibetan professor in the United States by the Central Tibetan
Administration of the Exile Government based in Dharamsala, India.
— Douglas Chung
Social work professor Douglas Chung is the founder and
president of the Asian Center. His interests include traditional
Qigong (CHI-gong) therapies, self-healing, health promotion, stress
management, tobacco addiction counseling and culturally sensitive
model building.
— Greg Mahoney
Greg Mahoney is an assistant professor of Liberal Studies and
East Asian Studies. He can address questions about Beijing,
contemporary culture across China, contemporary politics, and the
transformation of China since Mao Zedong
— Wei Gu
Wei Gu is an assistant professor of education. He can address
questions about education in China, especially elementary and
secondary compulsory education.
— Kin Ma
Kin Ma is an assistant professor of geography. He can address
questions about China's culture, economy and physical geography
Also, two people with Grand Valley ties are working at the Olympics. Chris Uhl, a 2003 Grand Valley grad, will participate in the Beijing Olympics as a chef. Uhl was selected as one of 7,000 chefs from around the world to prepare food for Olympic athletes and coaches. Uhl is an assistant food service director at Central Michigan University and applied to be an Olympic chef through ARAMARK, CMU’s food service vendor.
Miriam (Mimi) Smith, supervisor at the Starbucks in the DeVos Center on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus, will represent Campus Dining/ARAMARK at the Summer Olympics. Smith will work with 150 ARAMARK managers and 5,000 Chinese staff members during the games.
