NYU Shanghai Global Writing & Speaking Fellows provide academic support and enrichment for the students at NYU Shanghai. Fellows provide support in writing, speaking, and general academic skills. They work closely with faculty, and they tutor, teach, and collaborate with different university departments to spearhead projects and initiatives that enrich the student academic experience and university community at large. Fellows also have the opportunity to work on their own writing and research projects over the course of the academic year. Find out more about how to apply to be a Global Writing & Speaking Fellow.
Abby Smith, she/her
Lead Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
as19000@nyu.edu
Abby graduated from Occidental College where, for her East Asian Studies undergraduate thesis, she explored re-representations of historical trauma within Korean films. Additionally, as a Diplomacy and World Affairs double major, her second thesis theorized ways government policy on minority groups can effect vulnerability to human trafficking. During undergrad Abby worked in her college's International Programs Office, serving as a peer advisor assisting students with essays and applications. As a Global Writing and Speaking Fellow at NYUSH, Abby has enjoyed being able to connect with students and is excited to continue helping others explore how writing can be used as a tool for both self expression and academic advancement! She has also enjoyed working with students who want to develop strategies to improve their speaking and presentation skills. Outside of academics and work, you can often find Abby attempting to cook a new recipe (to varying degrees of success), having a coffee (or five) at a cute cafe, or trying to expand her language skills by binge watching C- and K-dramas.
Kenia Sophia Garcia-Ramos, she/they
Lead Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
kg3536@nyu.edu
Kenia (she/they) graduated from Pomona College as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow, where she majored in Chicanx-Latinx Studies with a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies. They are fully bilingual in Spanish and English, and are looking forward to improving their Mandarin while in Shanghai. Kenia was awarded the Ray Burial Senior Exercise Prize and the Judith L. Gibbons Award for Research on Culture and Gender for her senior thesis work, which explored a multi-modal creative methodology, synergizing essay, theory, photograph, film, affect, and interview to think through the mothering experiences of Latina (Im)migrant Mothers. She has great experience academically supporting students with narrative and creative pieces, untangling themes of gender, culture, and identity. As a first-generation, low-income scholar, Kenia deeply values creating caring and welcoming spaces to best support scholars and their work. In her free time, Kenia enjoys reading, photography, listening to music, exploring parks, and scrapbooking. She is excited to work with and grow alongside the vibrant community at NYU Shanghai.
Yanny Liang, she/her
Senior Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
yl5387@nyu.edu
Yanny graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in English and a minor in design. Her academic interests include East Asian and Asian-American literature, diaspora studies, media studies, and universal design. At WashU, Yanny was a peer tutor at the Writing Center for two years as well as a resident advisor and a campus tour leader. Yanny believes writing is a powerful tool for processing and articulating one’s experiences and is excited to work with students at NYUSH. In her free time, Yanny enjoys traveling, reading, photography, writing, and weightlifting. You can often find her exploring new places or hanging out with friends and eating good food.
Alison Zhang, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
ayz2048@nyu.edu
Alison grew up in California and recently graduated from Williams College, majoring in History. At Williams, she worked as a peer writing tutor, where she greatly enjoyed brainstorming sessions with students and helping them sharpen their thesis statements and core arguments. Alison sees academic writing as an exciting way to realize new connections between ideas and further your own knowledge, and through tutoring sessions she looks forward to learning alongside NYU Shanghai's student body. Her senior thesis looked at efforts to develop the mainland Chinese restaurant industry during the early Reform Era. In her free time, Alison enjoys reading comics, drawing, watching soccer, and talking to people about food.
Annabel Zhao, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
az3505@nyu.edu
Annabel (she/her) graduated from Swarthmore College as a McCabe Scholar with a major in German Studies and a minor in Educational Studies. She worked at the Swarthmore Writing Center for three years, during which she specialized in supporting students working on presentations, literature reviews, and creative projects. Her academic interests include language education as cultural education, learning communities, and depictions of otherness in German film and literature. At NYU Shanghai, she looks forward to demystifying the Academic Resource Center and working with students across all disciplines to express themselves in an academic English learning environment. A proud ABC, Annabel likes to cook/bake on video call with 外婆, doodle her travels, play Ultimate Frisbee, and learn languages.
Caty Maloney, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
cam1099@nyu.edu
Caty graduated with a BA in Sociology and Chinese Languages and Cultures from Smith College. Her interests include gender and sexuality studies, education policy, and visual arts. While at Smith, Caty worked as a Peer Writing Tutor for two years and served as an assistant editor to the Smith College literary magazine. After graduation, she received the Taiwan Huayu Scholarship and lived in Taipei for one year studying Mandarin. She is excited to build on her experiences and support NYU Shanghai students in their unique academic journeys. In her free time, Caty loves to drink coffee, visit art museums, and go on nature walks.
Colby Porter, he/him
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
cjp9405@nyu.edu
Colby is from Syracuse, New York, USA, and recently graduated from Brown University with a degree in computer science and education studies. While at Brown, he worked as a teaching assistant in several introductory computer science classes and was a fellow with the Data Science Institute. Colby also worked as an intern at the Center on Reinventing Public Education and the United States Government Accountability Office. In 2022, Colby was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship by the US Department of State to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan. He also spent a semester studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In his free time, Colby enjoys swimming, hiking, playing video games, and spending time with friends.
E Jen Liu, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
el4492@nyu.edu
E Jen graduated from Barnard College with a major in Urban Studies and specialization in Political Science. During her time at Barnard, she was a fellow at the Writing Center and Empirical Reasoning Center, supporting her peers with research, writing, and data science projects through dialogue and one-on-one meetings. E Jen was awarded the Anna Quindlen '74 Writing Fellow Award. Her research interests include urban informality, environmental justice, and participatory planning. During the summer months prior to starting at NYU Shanghai, she worked as a data analyst at the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia’s Climate School on a project that supports USAID’s global distribution of climate adaptation funds. Outside of work, her newest obsession is bouldering and she is always looking for new betas.
Elena Salzmann, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
ehs9739@nyu.edu
Elena Salzmann (she/her) is a new Writing and Speaking Fellow at the ARC. Before starting at NYU Shanghai, she was working at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations in the communications department, where she produced videos and podcasts about the U.S.-China relationship. Prior to working full-time, she completed a five-year B.A./M.A. program between Barnard College and Columbia University in the department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. Her professional interests span from world history to international relations, and she is academically interested in religion and local economies. She loves running, going to the gym, visiting museums, and trying new foods! She’s also a huge fan of listening to history podcasts. When you book a tutoring appointment with her, she always brings a detailed eye to student work and will remain a judgment-free source of academic support; She encourages students to ask many questions and to take academic risks. She can't wait to work with you!
Grace Shieh, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
gs3328@nyu.edu
Grace graduated from NYU Abu Dhabi, where she studied economics and creative writing as well as theater, visual arts, and music. She was recently a research fellow at the NYUAD Office of Inclusion and Equity examining accent experiences and developing workshops for inclusive practices. While a student, Grace served as a peer tutor at the writing center and worked at the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Residential Education, Community Outreach, and Student Government. Grace is also a musician, writer, and visual artist. Her pieces have appeared at the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi, the University of Iowa Summer Institute, and exhibitions at NYUAD. Passionate about multimodal, multicultural art, her recent interests focus on examining artistic forms in diverse spaces. In her free time, Grace enjoys playing music and walking. As a fellow this year, she looks forward to continue being a part of the NYU family at NYU Shanghai and connecting with the community of writers!
Jarita Chen, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
wcc341@nyu.edu
Jarita (she/her) is Taiwanese and Shanghainese, born and raised. She graduated from Macalester College (Imnizaska/St. Paul, Mni Sota Makoce/Minnesota) with a double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science; she also spent a semester at the National Dong Hwa University's College of Indigenous Studies in Hualien, Taiwan. Her Environmental Studies Honors Thesis investigated historical and ongoing settler colonialism in Taiwan, focusing on Indigenous land justice through the issues of national parks and hunting. In the Twin Cities, she worked on environmental justice advocacy with Native-led nonprofit Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi as a Chuck Green Fellow and organized for transit justice with MN350. Jarita’s other academic interests include research methodologies and ethics, the politics of refusal, and critical geographies. At the ARC, she looks forward to working with students on incorporating evidence and structuring arguments. In her free time, you can find Jarita knitting while listening to podcasts, journaling, learning languages, or petting stray cats.
Jonah Dunch, he/him
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
jd6147@nyu.edu
Jonah grew up in Edmonton, Canada, and holds a BA Honors in philosophy with a minor in drama from the University of Alberta and an MA in philosophy from the University of Toronto. Within philosophy, Jonah has research interests in (meta)ethics, moral psychology, and Chinese philosophy, particularly the late classical Confucian thinker Xunzi. Aside from his academic work, he has experience in playwriting, fiction, creative nonfiction, arts journalism, and op-ed writing. As an undergraduate student, Jonah wrote and directed plays for campus and local theatre. He also worked as the arts and culture editor at his alma mater’s student-run news publication, going on to publish in professional venues such as the Canadian national magazine Maclean’s. Between degrees, Jonah lived in Taipei, where he worked as a copywriter and English and drama teacher while studying Chinese language at the National Taiwan Normal University Mandarin Training Center. As a tutor, Jonah hopes to help students improve their command of form while developing their own voices as writers
Ling Groccia, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
lmg638@nyu.edu
Ling Groccia is a Barnard College graduate with a background in advertising, communications, and cultural analysis. At school, Ling worked as a Writing Fellow at the Barnard Writing Center and graduated with a degree in American Studies and deep interest in Visual and Material Culture Studies. After graduating, Ling worked as a brand and creative strategist, building culturally-resonant creative work that moves people to think and act differently. Ling has worked across sectors for issue advocacy organizations championing democracy, media companies elevating underrepresented voices, and multinational banks investing in cities and communities. Tying her academic and professional work together is the belief in the power of language and contemporary media to shape narratives, promote advocacy and empathy, and effectively build community. In her free time, Ling loves trying new restaurants, exploring different neighborhoods in Shanghai, scrolling endlessly on social media, and listening to live music!
Maya Muwanga, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
mm11175@nyu.edu
Maya is a recent graduate of NYU Abu Dhabi, born and raised in Colorado, USA. At NYUAD, Maya majored in history and also completed a minor in film and new media. Maya worked for three years at the NYUAD writing center and she hopes to bring her positive and transformative experiences there into NYUSH’s ARC. Her senior capstone, entitled "Futures We Can Return To: Black New Orleans and the Memory of Marronage," was an interdisciplinary research project investigating memories of anti-slavery resistance amongst members of the Black community in New Orleans, Louisiana. Maya has ample experience with academic writing and research in the humanities as well as assisting students with graduate school and internship/fellowship applications (personal statements, mock interviews, etc.). She also has experience tutoring students in academic reading and speaking skills. In her free time, Maya likes trying out TikTok recipes, reading, and taking long walks with friends.
Meredith Lu, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
rl4188@nyu.edu
Meredith recently graduated from NYU Shanghai with a BA in Global China Studies and minors in Journalism and Creative Writing. During college, she gained professional experience in journalism and communications. Her capstone research focused on how the Shanghai COVID-19 lockdown was represented in state-run Chinese- and English-language news media in the early months of 2022. At NYU Shanghai, Meredith worked as a Writing and Speaking Learning Assistant, dedicated to empowering other ESL (English as a Second Language) writers. She has experience and interest in academically supporting students with news stories, listening and speaking skills, creative writing projects, and writing clearly for the general public. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys writing short stories and watching live music performances.
Promise Kim, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
pjk9933@nyu.edu
Promise was born in Michigan but later moved to South Korea and China during her childhood. She graduated from the University of Michigan before receiving her Master’s Degree from the Yenching Academy at Peking University. While growing up in Asia she started privately tutoring students as a high schooler and continued to further her interests in language by working for an English education tech startup and later as a translator at Samsung. She proudly identifies as a TCK (Third Culture Kid) and has a passion for international education to help students who struggle with their multicultural identity in their academic career. Promise grew up attending several different international schools so she is excited to join NYU Shanghai’s diverse community, interact with those of different cultures on campus, and share her hobbies of sports, music, and food with her team and the NYU Shanghai Community!
Yifei Wu, she/her
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
yw3770@nyu.edu
Yifei graduated from UChicago with a BA in French, BS in Biochemistry, and MS in Chemistry in 2023. Her French thesis examines acts of feminine resistance in the 17th century French tragedy Horace. At UChicago, Yifei was a resident assistant, teaching assistant for biochemistry, and piano teacher for three pre-teen students. She also worked as a research assistant on projects in medical anthropology, focusing on interagency collaboration in mental health in China and nonmedical needs of children with disabilities in rural Asia. After graduation, Yifei spent a year in the Bay Area working in the biotechnology industry. During this time, she also taught science to two primary school students via an outreach program. In her free time, Yifei likes to read, journal, and go swimming.
Shengli Wen, they/them/tā
Global Writing and Speaking Fellow
rw2423@nyu.edu
Shengli grew up between the Bay Area in California and Lanzhou China. Their research interests include socially engaged art, computational poetry, and radical futurisms. They graduated from NYU Shanghai with a major in Interactive Media Arts (IMA) and minor in Global China Studies in 2022, where their capstone was a web-based meditation on climate grief. After graduating, Shengli returned to Shanghai and was Associate Fellow in the IMA department. Having lived in Shanghai throughout the pandemic/lockdowns, they hope to further explore their relationship with the city and its queer communities in this coming year. In their free time, Shengli enjoys Chinese breakfast stalls, reading/running by the river, dance class, and spending time with their cat Pingu.