Education

·        Ph.D Communication Studies University of Iowa (2002)

o       Dissertation: Culture and Communication: An Ethnographic Study of Chinese Criminal Courtroom Communication (directed by Dr. Kristine Fitch)

·        M.A. Communication Studies Univ. of Iowa (1999)

·        M.A. Linguistics Beijing Univ. China (1994)

·        B.A. English Language and Literature HeBei Normal University (1991)

Teaching Experience

·        Assistant professor, Communications Department, University of South Carolina-Aiken (2002-)

·        TA, Department of Communication Studies, University of Iowa (1997-2002) (Instructor for various major courses)

·        Lecturer, Department of Foreign Languages, Renmin Univ. China (1994-1997)

Publications

   ●    Nonverbal communication in Friends. Manuscript submitted to Communication Teacher, 2005.

·         Ethnographic Research methods and communication research. Journal of Hunan Mass Media College,   2: 22-25, 2005 (Co-authored)

●    Questioning as a culturally situated persuasive genre of talk. Discourse and Society, 15 (6): 705-722, 2004. Sage.

·         The analysis of three models of intercultural communication. Journal of Hunan University (Social Sciences), 17 (3): 100-103, 2003. (Reprint, Journalism and Communication, 10: 4-8, 2003) 

·         The development and contribution of Ethnography of Communication: An interview with Dr. Kristine Fitch. Journal of International Communication, 112: 60-64, 2002. (Co-authored)

·         Ethnography of communication and ethnographic research methods: Engaging culture and communicative practices. Journalism and Communication, 2: 15-22, 2002. (Co-authored)

·         Political Communication and rhetorical persuasion. Journal of Social Science of Hunan Normal University, 31 (2): 78-83, 2002. (Co-authored)

·         Relational Functional equivalence as a criterion for good translation: A study of the English translation of Chinese Tang poetry. The Journal of Renmin University of China, Special Issue, p. 74-77, 1995.  

Conference Refereed Presentations

• Identities, Narrative Style, and Altercasting: An Analysis of Mother’s Talk about Their Overseas Children. Paper submitted to the annual conference of National Communication Association, San Antonio, TX. Nov. 2006.

• Identities and Intercultural Relationships in the U.S.: An Ethnographic Study. Paper submitted to the annual conference of National Communication Association, San Antonio, TX. Nov. 2006.

• Discursive Construction of Identities: Discourses of Overseas Chinese. Paper to be presented at to the annual conference of ICA. Dresden, Germany. May 2006.

• Talking Lives: Identity, Culture, and Relationships in the U.S. Paper presented at NCA annual conference. Boston, MA. November, 2005.

• Joking, relationships, and culture: Building intimacy through talk. Paper presented at the International Communication Association Annual conference. New York, NY. May 2005.

• Storytelling, pedagogy, and persuasion. Paper presented at the National Communication Association convention, Chicago, IL. November 11-14, 2004.

• Enacting cultural values/meanings: An examination of teacher-student relationships in China. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Carolinas Communication Association. Clemson, SC. September 24-25, 2004.

•  Beyond what’s said purposefully: Interpersonal influence revisited. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, May, 2004. (With Steve Duck)

• Are you a hero? Newspaper discourse, identity, and culture. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ICA, New Orleans, LA, May, 2004.

• Who speaks next? Discourse structure as persuasion in Chinese criminal courtrooms.  Paper presented at the National Communication Association convention, Miami Beach, Florida, November 2003.

• Can you answer the question? An ethnographic study of questioning as a culturally situated persuasive genre of talk. Paper presented at the International Communication Association convention, San Diego, California, May 2003.

• Will you marry me? An ethnographic study of communicative practice leading to marriage. Paper presented at the International Communication Association convention, Seoul, Korea, July 2002. (With Kristine Fitch) 

Conference Referred Panel Presentations

·         Communication Patterns among Temporarily Reunited Groups: A Chinese Scenario. Panel title, ‘Ordinary Speaking Practices in (Extra)ordinary Communities.’ The ICA annual conference. New York, NY. May 2005.

·         Healthy departments look in the mirror: Using assessment to make a good program even better. Panel, "Healthy departments make friends: Communication departments nurture relationships to survive and thrive." NCA annual conference, Boston, MA. November 2005.

·         Do It Civil, Do It Correct: Transcultural Civility in American College Classrooms:
A Personal Note. Spotlight panel, "cultivating civil communication in interpersonal contexts." CCA annual conference, Charlotte, NC, September 2005.

Conference Presentations/ Other Papers

·        New nationalism in China in the 1990s: An analysis of the Spring Festival Gala 1999. Paper presented at Iowa Communication Association Conference, Amana Colonies, Iowa, Sept. 2000.

·        Morality talk as cultural persuasion: An ethnographic study of Chinese courtroom interaction. Paper presented on Graduate Forum 2000 in University of Iowa. Organized and Presented by University of Iowa Graduate Student Senate.

·        Communication behaviors and requisite functions: An ethological analysis of group decision-making interaction. Paper presented at NCA, St. Louis, MO, November 1999. (Co-author: Alaina Winters)

·        New nationalism in China in 1990s: An analysis of the Spring Festival Gala 1999. Paper presented at International Mondays in University of Iowa (International Mondays are weekly presentations by international scholars, invited, after a careful selective process by the international program in the international center of the University of Iowa.), 1999.

Awards & Grants

   ●    Grant Proposal, "Moments of 'foreignness': An ethnographic study of the discursive construction of  
         'foreign' identity," Cooperative Research (with Alan Hansen, Texas A&M University-Campus Christi),
         NEH (National Endowment for Humanities), $32,356.80, submitted 2004 (not granted).

·        Dissertation Award, Language and Social Interaction Division, National Communication Association, Nov. 2003, Miami Beach, FL.

·        “Top Paper” award, Communication and Law Division, National Communication Association, Nov. 2003, Miami Beach, FL.

·        “Top Four Paper” Award, Language and Social Interaction Division, International Communication Association, May 2003, San Diego, CA.

·        Research Assistantship, Department of Communication Studies, University of Iowa, 2001.

·        CAPS (Center of Asian and Pacific Studies) Dissertation Fellowship, University of Iowa, 2000.

·        UISG (University of Iowa Student Government) Research Grant, University of Iowa, 2000.

·        Carroll Arnold Fellowship (a highly competitive and prestigious award for the second year graduate student who has achieved the most in both teaching and academic studies), Department of Communication Studies, University of Iowa, 1999.

Selected Departmental, Campus, and Community Service 

·        Member, Women’s History Committee (2003-); Member, Campus Life Committee (2004-); Member, Library Committee (2005-); Member, University Judicial Board (2002-2005); Member, Internationalization/Diversity Committee (2003); Member, Excellence in Teaching Award Committee (2004); Member, Excellence in Research Award Committee (2005); Member, Diversity Action Team (2004); Member, NCBI (National Coalition Building Institute) (2003-2005); Member, study abroad scholarship committee (2003-); Panelist and organizer, International Faculty/Staff Panel (2003); Moderator/Facilitator, International Student Panel (spring 2004, spring 2005); Facilitator, Freshmen Friday (2003-2005)

·        Secretary, Communications Department (Spring 2003); advising first year undergraduate students; advising undergraduate majors; actively participating in curriculum designs, program assessment, departmental growth; Member, Advising-Merger Subcommittee (on course replacement and rotation); Library Liaison; taking minutes; Co-Chair, Communications Department Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Search Committee (2003); Chair, Communications Department Instructor Search Committee (2005)

·        Moderator, International Student Panel, Aiken International Club (Spring 2004); Presentation, “Embracing diversity—A conversation for community,” the Leadership Aiken County Diversity Awareness/ Cultural Arts Day, coordinated by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce (Nov. 18, 2003); Presentation, “Building and Maintaining Positive/ Productive Relationships: Diversity at Work,” Tri-Development Center of Aiken County (working with people with disabilities) (Dec. 2004); Presentation, “Women and Men at Work: Understanding and Coping with Differences,” Seminar at Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC (June 2005) 

Professional Service

·        Reviewer, Journal of Communication Inquiry (2004-); Research on Language and Social Interaction (2005); Sociological Perspective (2000).

·        Paper reader, the Language & Social Interaction division of ICA (2004, 2005)

·        Respondent, Language and Social Interaction Paper Session: Goffman, Communication Theory, and Facework, ICA 2004.

·        Chair, Mary E. Jarrard Graduate Paper Competition Committee, Carolinas Communications Association (2005)

·        Chair, two panels of Mary E. Jarrard Graduate Paper Competition Panels, CCA annual conference, Charlotte, NC, September 2005. 

Professional Affiliations

·        National Communication Association (NCA) (2000 -) 

·        International Communication Association (ICA) (2001 -)

·        Carolinas Communication Association (CCA) (2002 -)   

·        Communication Institute for Online Scholarship (CIOS) (2002 – 2004)