I was recently honored to be a delegate at the 2025 Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit. As a Global Affairs (Asia concentration) and Chinese major, with an expected graduation date of 2027, this opportunity allowed me to learn from experts in the U.S.-China field and connect with other college students who are interested in this topic.
The theme of this year’s summit was Bridging the Pacific: Charting the Course of U.S.-China Relations. Over two days spent at Duke University, delegates heard from experts in governance, climate, literature, and economics. Speaker talks focused on rebuilding channels of cooperation between the U.S. and China amid today’s political climate and competing international interests. I have a regional focus in Asia and appreciated the chance to explore the details of the U.S.’s complicated and important relationship with China.
I was also able to connect with other conference delegates from around the world. I appreciated hearing about the internships and opportunities that other students were pursuing, and I gained valuable industry knowledge from young professionals entering into international relations and diplomacy jobs. Learning from my fellow delegates’ experiences helped me connect my current Global Affairs degree with plans for my future studies and career in Asian international relations.
This was an amazing opportunity to explore my area of interest in Global Affairs, make connections with other students, and learn about future careers and opportunities in this field. I am so grateful for the support of George Mason’s Global Affairs department in helping me attend this event!
March 14, 2025