Student Profiles

Xuan An graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature (Interdisciplinary Program:Innovative and Cultural Industry) from Shandong Normal University in 2023. She has gained rich knowledge in cultural production and consumption, which involves literature, aesthetics, art, marketing, and communication. During her undergraduate studies, An gained experience working in the new media department of Shandong Business Daily and her university. She has tried to start an artistic business as well. She participated in establishing a studio in 2021 to provide promotion services for local traditional crafts through new media. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors and writing fiction. Born with a dynamic personality and active thinking style, An has developed an interest in commercial entertainment, visual arts, new media, ACGN culture,etc. She has a fascination with interacting with different artists,evaluating the price, and using strategic marketing tools, such as digital marketing, to help sell arts products. Attracted by digital artworks and entertainment products, her academic interest lies in the visual aesthetics of the integration of digital technology and traditional art. She is also concerned with how to utilize cultural resources to obtain economic and artistic benefits and how to start innovative entrepreneurship in the cultural sector. By continuing her study at ARAD TC, An hopes to better improve her art administration skills and collaborate with others. In the future, An plans to devote herself to the auction or entertainment industries.

Rithika Ashok graduated with honors from The College of William & Mary in 2022, where she earned a B.S. in Kinesiology & Health Sciences, as well as a minor in Dance. During her undergraduate career, Rithika championed her artistic interests through participation and leadership in several campus dance organizations. This past year, Rithika worked at The Juilliard School's Dance Division, where she thoroughly developed her passion and skill set in the arts management field. She is ultimately interested in working at both nonprofit and for-profit organizations to specifically support the growth of up and coming artists. She is especially passionate about presenting South Asian art with resources that bring it into the global arts spotlight. Rithika looks forward to developing her skills and knowledge through ARAD and its supportive community!

Hongxuan (Kira) Bao graduated from University of Miami in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in communication. She looks forward to discovering her potential here.

Joy Blanchard graduated with distinction from McGill University (Montreal, Quebec) in 2020 with a Bachelor of Music in Composition and minors in Music Theory and Music Education.  While at McGill, she developed an enthusiasm for coordinating concerts and events, collaborating, and leading as president of the McGill Association of Student Composers.  Passionate about music education as well as administration, Joy has held several music teaching positions in the Boston and Montreal areas.  In recent years, she has grown her studio of piano students in her hometown of Boston, MA.  Joy is excited to learn about the wider world of arts administration and to collaborate with her peers at Teachers College.  She plans to continue advocating for new music and to bring skills developed in the ARAD program to community music education. 

Natalia Buitrago graduated in 2021 from SUNY Potsdam with a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance, Clarinet and Music Business.  During her undergraduate studies, she gained experience through internships with The Crane School of Music, D’Addario, and MusicFirst. She looks forward to collaborating with like-minded individuals passionate about the arts. Her professional interests include communications and event programming in arts and music education. She aims to bring the arts to underserved communities and to transform music education programs to be more equitable and inclusive. Additionally as a musician, she enjoys woodwind doubling in musical theatre pits.

Mars Cardwell is originally from Hagerstown, Maryland. She graduated from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University with a Bachelors in Music Education as a Strings/Violin Primary. Shortly following her graduation, she obtained her New York State Music Teaching License. While attending NYU, she spent much of her free time participating and leading in various spaces centered around creating safe and reliable resources/spaces for students of color, especially feminine identifying students of color. That combined with her teaching experience has led her to working towards all arts accessibility and advocacy for children of color. She looks forward to the knowledge and resources that she will gain in the ARAD program and overall at Teachers College.

Boyao Chen graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and Bachelor of Science in supply chain and information system. While at Penn State University,She was involved in the production of Chinese plays Monologues of n Women. She joined PSU Theater and Movie society and served as assistant director, producer and actor. In ARAD, Boyao Chen hopes to learn more about  managing the performing arts. She hopes to cooperate with people in related fields and continue to devote herself to the development of performing arts in the future.

Joey Chen graduated with honors from New York University in 2022, where she earned a B.A. in Art History and double minors in Web Programming and Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology. During her undergraduate, Joey interned at several leading art institutions, galleries, and advisory firms including the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art and Gurr Johns, while also realizing her independent pursuits in social media strategy and curating. Her continuous exploration across the various segments of the international art world, from non-profit to for-profit, and from her hometown China to the United States, has nurtured her professional advocacy for a more diverse and interconnected global art community. Joey looks forward to enriching her interdisciplinary knowledge and skillset at ARAD, exploring the intersection between art, technology, and business.  

Xuanyi Chen graduated from Peking University in 2022 with a B.A. in Thai Language and Literature and a minor in History of Art. Her research interests include body politics and the relationship between urbanization in China and contemporary Chinese art. During her undergraduate study, she has held internships at Red Brick Art Museum in Beijing, LAN Gallery, and Guan Shanyue Art Museum in Shenzhen. Interested in art criticism, she regularly reviews exhibitions and writes articles for major art media such as Artnet and Artron. As the Chinese art market heavily prioritizes established artists over emerging ones, leading to limited exposure and opportunities for young talents, she aims to promote talented young Chinese artists in the future. She looks forward to gaining systematic training in arts administration at Columbia University and spending two memorable years with outstanding fellow classmates. 

Wan-Hsin Cheng, a graduate of National Taiwan University, earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and a minor in Music. She has a keen interest in classical piano and has gained performance experience while nurturing her appreciation for music. Her background in economics has offered her valuable training in data analysis and problem-solving, allowing her to apply market analysis and economic models to the arts sector in practical ways. Through her internship at the National Taiwan Theater and Concert Hall, Wan-Hsin was exposed to the dynamic cultural landscape and various aspects of multifaceted operations in managing performance arts. As an activity head in a music club, she has organized live performances, collaborating with technical professionals to bring artistic visions to life. Eagerly anticipating her future studies, Wan-Hsin hopes to delve further into arts management at ARAD and is excited to explore the vibrant arts scene in New York City!

Yeajin Choi is a photographer and arts professional from Seoul, South Korea. She graduated with honors from NYU Tisch with a BFA in Photography and Imaging and a joint minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology. She has worked internationally as a project manager and marketing strategist for Datz Press and Datz Museum of Art. Her professional interests center around non-profit fundraising and external affairs, as well as multidisciplinary arts experiences formed through visual and performing arts. Through the ARAD program, she hopes to gain the necessary skills to support artists in expanding their mediums and to amplify the voices of new talent. 

Sophie Collinet is originally from France. Since her childhood, she has always been fascinated by the powerful and beautiful nature of art. It left a lasting impression on her, so, her goal growing up became to be around creativity as much as possible, in order to try to continuously experience this mesmerizing feeling. After graduating in July 2022 from Bayes Business School, City, University of London with a BSc (Hons) in International Business, where she founded and presided over the art society, as well as participated in entrepreneurship challenges, she worked for a year in several art galleries to gain more work experience, while building her first start-up. She realized then that combining her passions for art and entrepreneurship was what she really wanted to do. She is particularly interested in circular business models, together with establishing a company in the art industry that will make art more accessible while giving more visibility to talented emerging artists. Sophie believes that the MA in Arts Administration, especially the various classes and the bespoke program, will help her achieve this goal.

Xiaoqi (Iris) Cong is an enthusiastic Chinese girl with a strong passion for the arts. She just got her BFA from Dalian University of Technology, where she specialized in Visual Communication Design. 

During her undergraduate years, she gained valuable experience as a curatorial assistant for photography exhibitions and art foundations. And she is also a designer and an illustrator. Her interest in the arts was nurtured from a young age through calligraphy and fine arts, fueling her profound fascination with the creative world.

With an active and adventurous personality, she loves to explore various interests fearlessly, always eager to embrace new challenges. And with her strong interest in the integration of business, technology, and art, she hopes to meet like-minded friends who share the same  passion, fostering a creative and innovative experience during her graduate studies.

My name is Sheng Dang and I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. My background in communications allows me to better understand the publicity and the promotion part of the projects. During my undergraduate life, I interned at Yangzhou Daily News and learned how to report news. Had an internship at Jiangsu Broadcast Corporation to learn all the steps of producing a show/stage. Had an internship at ByteDance and GroupM to learn many promotion techniques. All these experiences I had helped in pursuing this aspect of musical promotion. Since 2018, the Chinese musical market is on the rise, with more and more audiences willing to come into the theatre to watch stage arts. I am one of them. Until now, I have watched hundreds of different stage arts productions, and going to the theater has become an indispensable part of my life. Also, I am constantly promoting stage theater arts to the public on social media platforms. As stage arts is still a niche culture, I hope to learn more about art and management through the ARAD program, so that I can popularize theatre culture to a larger extent.

Kira Daniel graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Christian University with a BFA in Modern Dance. She has been a part of the performing arts community from a young age and has completed summer programs at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Eisenhower Dance Detroit, and has performed works by Martha Graham, José Limón, Jamila Glass, and Stephanie Pizzo, among others. Having little access to dance training from a young age inspired Kira to learn the world of arts management. With a passion for exploring her interest in dance and social justice, Kira is most excited to begin her Arts Administration journey at Teachers College in hopes to open a non-profit dance center that offers better access to training in the arts to people of color.

Claire Yixin Dong graduated from The University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Arts degree and double majored in Art History and Comparative Literature.  Her academic and professional passions and ongoing explorations are closely focused on Asian modern and contemporary and Studies of China in the Global art Market. She previously interned at Christie’s Shanghai and Hong Kong Office, Hermes and Modern Media Group, where she engaged with for-profit and non-profit campaigns in collaboration with artists, curators and business representatives. Claire is looking forward to deepening her understanding of arts management and how to deliver a positive impact with art in ARAD. She also wished to explore more multifaceted art ecology and develop industry-essential skill-sets in New York City! 

Carolina Edman embarked on exhibition making when assuming leadership of the art initiative at Copenhagen Business School while studying International Business and Politics. Recognized for her contributions, she became a selected member of the school's Art Committee, where she championed several art projects to enrich the knowledge environment of the business and management education context. Her arts administration journey continued at Faurschou, where she with colleagues nurture a contemporary art collection and an international exhibition program with leading artists. Presently, her research centres around the expanding role of museums and associated spaces as custodians of cultural heritage and generators of visual culture. Beyond her professional pursuits, Carolina finds solace in hiking and ventures into nature, reflected in her passion project, Mesh Magazine, which champions regenerative ethics for humankind's future.

Suxin Feng graduated with honors from Parsons School of Design in 2022 with her BFA in Interior Design. Triggered by her appreciation for the peculiarity of Asian culture, she has developed a great interest in investigating the diverse nuances and values of Asian cultural heritage in traditional non-profit museums and galleries using immersive techniques and social media. She did her internship at the Harmony Gallery in Shanghai, which focused on Chinese tea culture through curatorial design decisions based on social and historical artifacts such as paintings and Chinese calligraphy installations. She also worked as a design consultant at Calligaris in New York City, where she participated in curating grand opening event for the showroom, Instagram account analysis & development, video making and interior design consulting. With her goal to cultivate engagement with the audience in cultural exhibitions, she aims to utilize various art forms and social media to acquire audience exposure on the internet in her future administration practice.

Qiuru Feng graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022 with a double major in Art History and Statistics and a minor in Business Administration. During her undergraduate study, Qiuru interned at both for-profit and non-profit art institutions, including Shanghai Powerlong Art Center, He Art Museum, the Heller Group, Gurr Johns, and Eli Klein Gallery. Her academic and professional interests center around arts advocacy, with a specific focus on using art to encourage diversity, promoting underprivileged artists, and organizing exhibitions that support marginalized groups. Through the ARAD program, Qiuru aspires to explore the multifaceted art ecosystem and develop a more comprehensive skillset that enables her to promote equity and inclusivity in the art world.

ZiYing (Lavender) Gai was born in Beijing, China and graduated from Pepperdine University in 2023 with dual degrees in Art History and Art. As an undergraduate, Lavender completed internships at several contemporary art museums and galleries including the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art and ROSEGALLERY, while also developing an interest in Contemporary East Asian Art. Her senior Art History thesis explored how the Chinese contemporary artist, Ji Yunfei, mobilizes traditional Chinese aesthetics and culture through his use of material, color, technique, and iconography in order to comment on the political issues in both China and the United States based on his experience in China and the West. In addition, her Senior Art Exhibition, "Whispers from the Water," bridged Eastern and Western cultures through an analysis of consumerism and superstitious beliefs. Lavender served as co-president of both the Art Club and Art History Student Society during her undergraduate years. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge and skills in law and business classes at ARAD, to contribute to intercultural exchange and communication in the contemporary art world.

Gabrielle Giles graduated from Williams College in 2019 and currently teaches first grade at P.S. 29 in her native Brooklyn, New York.  Internships with the Director’s Office at the Brooklyn Museum and at a prints and drawings gallery fueled her desire to pursue a career in the arts, while working in education for the past two years—through the pandemic—sharpened her specific interest in arts education. She is a firm believer in the power of the arts to uplift and unite, and seeks to be part of the continuous effort to increase access to the arts through education.

Mariana Gómez is a Mexican culture and arts manager who graduated from the Jesuit University of Guadalajara. She is passionate about creating experiences and the relationship between arts, culture, leisure, and human happiness. During her undergraduate studies, she gained experience through internships at the Museum Ex Convento del Carmen and Konibu, a social enterprise that promoted Mexican heritage textiles. Later she worked at AlteaCorp, as an assistant producer of Calaverandia, the first Día de Muertos park theme in the world, and a Lights Festival. Nowadays, she is a cultural entrepreneur, along with her business partner, created Anecdota, a PR agency with an app, a planner, and cultural agenda that invite its users to discover the city's local and cultural offers through promotion and the creation of experiences. Mariana's professional interests center around marketing for the arts, audience development, the concept of experiences, and its relation to happiness. She looks to create meaningful moments that increase savoring in the life of distinct audiences.

Elizabeth Guo majored in Art History at New York University. She is also a performer, writer, and filmmaker. The role of performing is the most important to her since she finds a connection to spiritual healing through the act of performing. As a Soprano singer, she also participated in theater performances such as musical acting. She also participated in the NYU Choral Arts Society and had a winter concert. As a writer, she has written about art, philosophy, and how museums have adapted during the pandemic. Professionally, she took time to explore the art field by interning at the Design Society art center in Shenzhen, the National Museum in Beijing, and the Chambers Fine Art gallery in New York. She also worked in the Armory Show 2021 art fair for the Chambers gallery. Elizabeth wishes to combine her dual passions in art and business in her future career. Her goals are to exert an impact on the development of art business and to ensure that the arts receive the funding and support needed to continue to flourish. 

Yixue (Rachel) Guo was born in Beijing, China and recently graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA focus on photography and a thesis in Visual and Critical Studies. Her strong passion for art, law, and business solidified her goal to promote the multifaceted value of art via cross-disciplinary approaches, especially for children. After her first experience as a teacher’s assistant at an English summer camp, she realized art’s cultural and social importance and its powerful impact on Children. With the hope of minimizing the barriers and making art more accessible, she interned at the International Children’s Media Center and the Baer Faxt Asia. She also volunteered at multiple museums and film festivals. She is excited to start her new journey at ARAD in Teachers College, Columbia University, and she looks forward to developing her skills in non-profit arts management and gaining knowledge in the legal and business field. During her spare time, she enjoys trail running, rock climbing, and snowboarding.

Chen Guo graduated from New York University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and double Minors in Studio Art and Mathematics. She was born and raised in Shanghai, China. She volunteered at the Shanghai West Bund museum and the 24th Shanghai Art Fair, while also gaining valuable insights into the art industry as a gallery assistant at Eye Level Gallery in Shanghai. During her undergraduate study, Chen developed a particular interest in Medieval Islamic art, leading her to undertake a simulation curating project centered around Islamic ceramics and provenance research on a medieval Kashan lusterware from NYU conservation center's collection. Aside from her focus on art history, as a studio art minor, she expressed her passion for visual arts through street photography, by capturing the essence of daily life in the vibrant streets of New York City. She also studied at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in order to enhance her photographic skills. With an insatiable love for art and a thirst for exploration, Chen eagerly looks forward to joining Columbia's ARAD program to further enrich her journey.

Chelsey Guo holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. Following her graduation, she pursued further studies at the Gemological Institute of America, where she obtained a prestigious Diploma in Graduate Gemology. In 2016, leveraging her expertise in business and gemology, Chelsey embarked on an inspiring journey by establishing her own jewelry brand. Her brand focuses on crafting exquisite pieces with natural diamonds, colored stones, and jadeite. A core aspect of Chelsey’ s identity centers around her strong family ties and her commitment to community and social responsibility. This fundamental value system has guided her throughout her professional endeavors, influencing her to incorporate ethical and sustainable practices in her jewelry business. In the summer of 2022, Chelsey reached a pivotal milestone when she launched her second line of jewelry, exclusively featuring designs adorned with lab-grown gems and diamonds. This decision exemplifies her dedication to embracing innovation and supporting environmentally friendly practices in the jewelry industry. Excited about the opportunity to expand her horizons, Chelsey eagerly anticipates becoming a part of the ARAD community at TC. She is eager to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds, as she believes that such interactions foster creativity, collaboration, and the exchange of transformative ideas.

Ziying Guo is a recent graduate of American University, where she specialized in Art History and Studio Art. Her profound experience in art appreciation, coupled with her unwavering passion for art creation, has ignited her interest in actively engaging with the public and expressing the inherent value of art. Ziying has previously interned with two nonprofit organizations and an art foundation, where she gained invaluable working experience that fostered her sense of social responsibility. Her ultimate goal is to cultivate an appreciative understanding of art through art education, empowering others to access and appreciate the intrinsic value of art. Ziying is eager to further her knowledge and skills in this field, as she is committed to making a meaningful impact in the realm of art education.

Amanda Han graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California in Fall 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry. Growing up as a classical pianist, Amanda is dedicated to promoting classical music as well as making music more accessible to the world.

YungChing (Anita) Huang graduated with honors from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2023, where she earned a BFA in graphic design. As a graphic designer, she finds great joy in telling stories and crafting narratives as a medium that can deeply resonate with others. She sees design as a tool in which she can effectively communicate the projects’ intent while creating meaningful connections, utilizing the graphic form as a collaborative platform to foster communities. Her interests center around marketing, communications, and social media strategy. During her undergraduate studies, her work experiences honed her expertise in developing compelling visual identities. She has previously interned at ZX Ventures in Shanghai, where she worked with the sales and marketing team to conceptualize marketing campaigns and design product packaging for breweries such as Hoegaarden, Patagonia, and Goose Island. In addition, she worked as a design intern for Miki Rai (content creator) and AlienAnt’s graphic design team by creating advertising and marketing materials based on collecting and analyzing audience engagement. 

Through the ARAD program, Anita hopes to explore the intersection between art and business. She looks forward to expanding her passion for arts management and acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact in the field.

Binyao Hu graduated from Baylor University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Digital Media and a minor in Theatre Design and Technology. During her time at Baylor, she worked with the Baylor Theatre Department as a stage assistant and lighting crew member for a large variety of productions such as Amelie, Athena, and The Comedy of Errors. In addition to theatre, Binyao is passionate about dance. She directed and choreographed for dance groups at Baylor such as the official dance team of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, and achieved the Popularity Award. Furthermore, she gained experience in the film by working as a videographer for class videos at Styleme Dance Studio in Boston. She interned at the studio where she gained valuable industry skills through organizing events calendars and maintaining client relationships at the forefront of the studio. With the ARAD program, Binyao looks forward to fostering connections with her peers and building the foundation necessary to accomplish her vocational goal of bringing more public awareness to the performing arts.

Soojin (Jinnie) Kang is an actor, dancer, and educator hailing from Seoul, South Korea. She graduated with honors from NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development with Bachelor of Science degree in Educational Theatre and minors in Creative Writing, Dance, and Dramatic Literature.

Jinnie is deeply passionate about exploring the intersection of different art forms, and understands the transformative power of the arts. She is particularly interested in using the arts to create safe and inclusive learning environments for children. With experience as a drama teacher in various educational settings and as an assistant administrator in performing arts companies in New York and Seoul, she hopes to bridge the gap between arts and education.

Through the ARAD program, Jinnie looks forward to delve into a wide variety of artistic disciplines and gain foundational knowledge and professional skills in arts administration. She is also excited to connect and collaborate with other artists and professionals.

Pui Lee (Billie) Lam graduated with a bachelor's degree in Culture, Criticism, and Curation from Central Saint Martins University of the Arts London in 2022. She interned in different industries to develop a wide set of skills that will support her in becoming a multi-disciplinary cultural worker. In the aspect of fashion, she interned at NOT showroom, assisting fashion buyers in selecting and buying unique products for their stores. She also worked as an intern for the jewelry brand Pupil Casket, where she learned about the production process and material selection. During her time in the ELLEMAN magazine, she helped out editors with photo shootings. In terms of marketing, she interned at Activation Group and worked for SK-II China's digital marketing team, collecting and analyzing data on audience engagement and interaction across multiple media channels. During her undergraduate studies, she and her classmates collaborated with Kiosk N1C to host live drawing events and music performances to encourage participants to explore Kings Cross, a London area with regulated aesthetics and public space privatization. The live drawing event wished to question Kings Cross' mainstream culture and encourage participants to embrace and value hidden and unrecognized cultures. She is excited to begin her journey at ARAD with her future classmates and contribute to the cultural industry with more skills. 

Janine Leslie is from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Dramatic Writing. While at NYU she interned at the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She was also a part of many student production groups such as TNT and The Collective. The former of which gave her the opportunity to work in venues such as Theatre Row, The Skirball Theatre, and Radio City Music Hall. Her work as a writer and director has led to many conversations about racial representation and wealth disparities within the arts. She strives to make creative opportunities more economically feasible for students and young artists. 

Chenchen Li has nearly 20 years of experience studying music and dance. She graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music and the Beijing Dance Academy, China's best music and dance academy. She has rich experience in performing and teaching, being active in music, dance, and theater productions, and teaching music and dance in several schools. She also interned at Meng Jinghui Theatre Studio, one of the largest private theaters in China. In addition, she was the president of the musical theater club of the Central Conservatory of Music and planned many performances for non-drama majors. Through the ARAD program, Chenchen looks forward to exploring the relationship between arts education, artistic creation, and administration and providing more possibilities for music and dance in China.

Yiru Li graduated from National Taichung University of Education. She has received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with distinction. During her studies at the university, she was attracted to art exhibitions and art performances. Through her observation, she found that the artworks of students who had graduated from systematic art training were not appreciated by the majority of people. At the same time, she began to explore the influence of social and cultural contexts on the local art climate. Now, she hopes that through the studies, she will be able to promote the arts into people's daily lives in a way that fits the local cultural environment.

Danshuo (Denzel) Li is an artist and art advocate based in Brooklyn, New York. Born and raised in Beijing, China, Denzel came to the States with his diverse cultural identities four years ago to further his passion for the arts. He is currently pursuing a B.A. degree in Arts Management and a minor in Music, Media, and Enterprise at the Ohio State University. Denzel has always been obsessed with the boundlessness and possibility of artmaking as he learned to paint and play the trumpet at the age of six. During the past four years as an undergraduate, he released original songs, wrote poems, created digital artworks, and performed open mics. Despite Denzel's versatility as an artist, what he wanted the most was for more people to have access to artistic experiences. By interning at leading arts and culture organizations in China and working closely with his professors on issues of the creative economy, Denzel excelled particularly in analyzing innovative entrepreneurship in the culture sector and the role of art in urban planning. To achieve his goal of being an art advocate committed to promoting the power of art in all cultural settings, Denzel wishes to delve deeper into the realm of arts administration and enhance his managerial capacity in the culture sector at Teachers College. 

Qigang (Aug) Li holds a BA in History of Art and Architecture from Boston University. Born in Shanghai, China, he began participating in art activities at a young age, developing a deep interest in art. He attended Northwest High School (Seattle), where he further expanded his artistic horizons. He became determined to work in an art-related industry and decided to continue his study of the arts as an undergraduate. During this period, he interned in various art-related industries to explore future career options. He worked as a Brand Analyst at LVMH in the fashion industry; participated in curatorial activities for a special Louis Bourgeois exhibition at the Long Museum, Shanghai; and served in the Director’s Office of the National Museum of China. His secondary interest in history and anthropology led him to participate in the excavation of a Native Alaskan site in Kodiak. 

 After completing his undergraduate degree, he took a gap year to start an art business, get in touch with more people in China’s art industry, and understand the Chinese art market. He established JW_art lab, engaged in 3D data collection and modeling of antiquities, and built an online digital cultural relics platform in cooperation with several museums in China to allow wider public access to their collections. Along with an interest in classical Chinese art, he participated in activities with many galleries of contemporary art, building up a broad network among working artists and industry professionals. 

 Qigang looks forward to deepening his knowledge of art at Columbia, expanding his network of friends and colleagues, and embracing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities the university offers.

Hsin Liang graduated from The City College of New York where she majored in Advertising and Public Relations and minored in Art.  After college, she has pursued different roles in Arts Administration, interning at galleries in New York, serving as Client Service/Bids Assistant at Christie’s, and in her most recent role of Gallery Administrator for Nunu Fine Art in Taipei. Hsin hopes to strengthen her skillsets as an arts professional at the ARAD program and feels excited to meet other classmates for future collaboration. 

Tianqi Liao was born in China and spent several years in the UK before beginning her studies at New York University in journalism and media. After graduating in 2019, she joined Bronx Documentary Center as the Development and Communications Coordinator to assist with non-profit fundraising, annual photo auctions, and photojournalism-based exhibitions. Previously, she was the Manager of Photography and Video at Art in Odd Places, an arts festival presenting visual and performance art in unexpected public spaces. As a photographer, she had her first solo exhibition in Beijing in 2021 and her works have been published on Ain’t Bad, C41, Phroom, and Fisheye. She was also nominated for the Fine Art Photography Awards and highly commended by the Belfast Photo Festival. With her interest in photography, she hopes to stimulate conversations through lens-based practices and establish creative platforms of exchange for emerging artists. 

Tingwei Lin graduated from Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He believes art is a unique way to express the characteristics of a person, and art can inspire people and create social, cultural impacts. From an academic perspective, he collaborated with a prestigious professor researching the relationship among pop-music bands, audiences, and culture. With 12 years of music learning experience, Tingwei is familiar with the art industry, and then joined OPUS Music Art, a professional classic-music management company, to cultivate his artistic senses. He not only worked with musicians from distinguished symphony orchestras, such as National Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic, but also engaged in several well-known performing arts projects. Participating in a startup project, which mainly focused on connecting artists, and an international volunteer program diversified his experience and reinforced his vision of bridging art, community, and people. Tingwei is hugely excited to join ARAD and continue to professionalize his business and art expertise. He hopes to launch an art company and utilize the power of art to bring more positivity and creativity to our world.

Chuying (Sienna) Lin is a New York-based fashion designer and entrepreneur from Macau, China. Sienna Lin graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Fashion Design and a minor in Creative Entrepreneurship. During her undergraduate studies at Parsons School of Design, Lin was nominated for the top 50 in the Arts of Foundation competition, the Supima Competition in 2023, and was one of the designers whose work was showcased at Parsons Benefit Gala 2023. Lin’s work identity is characterized by a sleek, modern aesthetic that incorporates innovative construction techniques, contrasts of colors, and a focus on clean lines. She generally looks to sources unrelated to fashion for inspiration, including art, architecture, and music. Lin aims to create new ideas and new forms that don’t follow any rules or conform to the trends of the time to play, evoke, inspire, and resonate with the audience. Driven by a profound passion for communication and art in general, Lin aims to share her unique perspective and acquired knowledge with a broader audience. Joining the Arts Administration program, Lin will continue to create, curate and showcase the enthralling intersection of consumer culture and creative entities.

Jiashan Liu graduated from New York University with a BA in Economics and a minor in Art History. Her background in economics allowed her to identify the shift in market trends and consumption behavior of the art industry in China. As visual art events become an experiential mainstay of urban living in China, an increasing number of young audiences were attracted to art spaces. Deeply interested in communication and art, she started her own social media channel to curate this exciting crossroad of consumer culture and visual art. She produced in-depth content breaking down the historical context and methodology of aesthetics contemplation and convey western art traditions and studies to an eastern audience while emphasizing the importance of contextualizing different artistic genres for one’s own tastes. As her followers approached 90k, she collaborated with multiple art institutions to help them engage her audience of young, educated, urban art consumers, whose digital native habits are forming an entire business space for disseminating art beyond traditional galleries and exhibitions. These experiences showed her that art administration is a changing field full of creative possibilities. She has interned at the Richard Taittinger Gallery in New York City and was particularly involved in business development for the gallery’s overseas debut in Shanghai in 2022. Jiashan looks forward to joining the Arts Administration and learning to interpret, educate, and manage the increasing role of visual art in Chinese society. 

Sirui Liu was born in Hangzhou, China and recently graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA degree in interior design. Her cultural sensitivity and desire to promote artistic inclusion have inspired her to pursue interdisciplinary experiments spanning advertising, event planning, design management for a real estate company, product marketing, architecture, gallery curation, and art center administration. With a solid background in interior design, she is passionate about integrating the power of art and design to make a greater impact on society. To achieve the mission, she began her gallery resort startup in China. Through her approach of utilizing design to promote art and cultural exchange, the combined system enables greater access to the infinite energy that art and design generate. She is excited to join the ARAD program to gain artistic and managerial skills that would push forward her gallery resort enterprise through strong complementarity between design and art. 

Suyi Liu deeply believes art originated from history and inspirations originated from life; she continually returns to the aspects often ignored or avoided by the crowds. Taking a critical view of history, gender, and cultural issues, she creates various artworks, including paintings, photography, installations, films, and performance art. After graduating from the University of  Rochester with a double major in studio art and digital media study, she developed her unique style of making art and understanding the relationship between social media and art. After experiencing various specializations in the art industry, She shifts her interests from making art to exploring possible opportunities for crossover art collaborations. She aims to help emerging artists and established artists discover their commercial value.

Muhang Ma graduated with dual degrees in Cinema and Media Arts and Economics and History from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, with honors, and has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in these areas. Outside of academia, Muhang has developed a deep passion for photography, particularly in capturing the beauty of landscapes and the essence of individuals through portrait photography. Creativity is at the core of Muhang's interests. She is drawn to video production, where she brings to life the beauty of nature, the intimacy of relationships, and the connection between memories and senses. She interns at BlueFocus, Hebei Daily, MiraclePlus Venture Capital, and China Construction Bank and has been working directly with Director Yang Ting. Her love for travel has taken her to many corners of the world, where she enjoys immersing herself in new cultures and experiences. She is also an avid hiker, having conquered the historic Machu Picchu in Peru.

Kaylie Maines (she/her/hers) is an artist and educator from State College, Pennsylvania. She attended The Pennsylvania State University, where she triple-majored in Sculpture, Art Education, and English. Kaylie maintains a robust multidisciplinary studio practice and is an active member of the Northeastern foundry circuit. Her poetry collection, Make it Do or Do Without; A Collection of Poems and Folk Memoirs, explores disputed personal history and coming-of-age in modern Appalachia; the collection was awarded an Erickson Discovery Grant. Currently, she is focused on the development of mobile arts institutions and multi-community service in extended rural populations. She believes that a mobile service model can recentralize the arts and provide sustainable, inclusive, and flexible programming to underserved populations, regardless of geographic location.

Iris Mang was born in Hong Kong and raised in Beijing, China and the San Francisco bay area. She graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Art History and Economics & Accounting. She is interested in East Asian art and focused on early modern Chinese painting in her undergraduate independent research. She has held internships at the OCAT Institute, a research center dedicated to the history of art, and a private contemporary art museum. Currently, she is pursuing a graduate degree in art history. At the ARAD program, Iris Mang looks forward to exploring the possibilities of making East Asian art and art history more accessible to the world. 

Sina McLin graduated from the University of Tulsa in 2019 with a BA in Arts Management & Art History and a minor in Advertising. During undergrad, Sina held internships at several museums and galleries both domestically and abroad. Upon graduating, she worked at a non-profit contemporary art gallery in Tulsa as the Gallery & Communications Manager. Sina hopes to continue exploring professional skills at the ARAD program and meet like-minded classmates who are passionate about the arts!  

Siqiao (Qiao) Meng is a graduate from Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in Fashion Business Management and minors of History of Arts, Film and Media, and Economics. Her academic interests lie in the utilization of data analysis in art piece pricing and the role of public relation and media in arts management. She also works as a fashion photographer and a business owner.  

Dylan Murphy, from Brocton, NY,  recently graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a Bachelor of Arts degree double majoring in Music and Arts Administration. While at Fredonia, he actively participated in many arts organizations including the Fredonia Student Opera Theatre Association (SOTA), the American Choral Directors Association, and Much More Chill a capella. As the Vice President of Fredonia SOTA, Dylan produced the organization’s annual Opera Scenes while simultaneously directing a newly-composed opera created by a Fredonia alumnus and composition faculty. During his final semester of undergrad, Dylan stepped into the position of Acting Ticketing and Customer Service Manager during which he led a team of 18 student ticket agents in and out of the office. Dylan’s professional goals include working with diverse artists and arts organizations while continuing to create an inclusive environment for artists of all disciplines. He looks forward to working with his ARAD colleagues to encourage and inspire current and future artists to create their best.

Joe Reece graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Central Missouri with a BFA in Acting in 2013. Since graduation, he has worked primarily as a voiceover artist in New York City, providing work for brands such as Habro, Hollister, and Dr. Pepper, among others. As part of the Arts Administration program at Teachers College, Joe hopes to learn the skills necessary to grow into a leadership role at an interdisciplinary arts organization. He wishes to help facilitate the work of artists focused on amplifying the voices of underserved communities, providing audiences with a wider access to more global, inclusive perspectives. Joe also has a particular interest in exploring innovative ways to bridge art and technology, and he hopes, while at Teachers College, to conduct research into methods to bring the necessary tools of these new mediums to artists around the world.  

Jessie (Zheqi) Shen recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with a master’s degree in Finance and Economics. Prior to her education at Cambridge, she graduated from Emory University in 2021 with honors in Arts History and a second major in Economics/Math. She has gained diverse internship experience at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, UCCA Beijing, and the Power Station of Art in Shanghai. Having studied and worked at the intersection of contemporary arts and business, she aspires to make experimental artists and startups visible to the broadest possible audience, especially the ones taking social stands, preserving artisanal craftsmanship central to indigenous cultures, and adopting cutting-edge perspectives, through helping them with developing insightful curatorial approaches and business models. 

Yinyi Song was born in Wuhan, China and graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Visual Studies in 2022. Concentrating on psychology, her study focused on human perception and the culture of seeing. In the past few years, she interned at General Motors’ and Tencent’s design departments, which solidified her interest in art. Her diverse learning in statistics, economics, and politics promoted her determination to pursue a career in arts administration. As a member of the ARAD program, Yinyi Song hopes to gain the knowledge needed to fulfill her goal in promoting art to the world.

Vivian Stolt is a Finnish professional violinist with a lifelong background in the performing arts, and a law school graduate with years of international experience. As a musician, in addition to completing a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, and Master’s degree in Music at the Arts University of Helsinki, majoring in Violin, and complementing her studies internationally, Vivian has competed both nationally and internationally, for example winning a shared first prize in the International Antonio Bigonzi Violin Competition in Italy in 2019. Beyond her academic accolades, she has worked professionally as a violinist in all of the most prominent Finnish orchestras, including the Finnish National Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Radio Symphonic Orchestra and Helsinki Philharmonics. As part of the ARAD program, Vivian looks forward to experiencing and taking full advantage of the interdisciplinary opportunities provided within the program, to make valuable connections for future collaborations, and to gain knowledge and skills that will assist her in ensuring classical music will have a strong societal foothold around the world also in the future. Vivian is incredibly excited to undertake the next steps in her career at Columbia as part of the ARAD program, as a grantee of the Finnish Fulbright Foundation. 

Zechen Su is from Shanghai, China, and recently graduated from NYU Tisch School of Arts University with a major in Film&TV and a minor in French study. Besides his passion for cinema, Zechen also spent four years studying French language and has become a member of Pi Delta Phi, a National French Honor Society. Served as the co-founder of the Action Student Film Festival in China since 2018, Zechen has managed an organization of 40+ members, and collaborated with various social organizations as well as industry professionals. His career interests are both in for-profit and non-profit organizations in the film industry. As a film exhibitor, Zechen is also interested in exploring non-traditional film marketing and distribution strategies. Through Arts Administration at Teachers College, Columbia University, Zechen is excited to gain the leadership skills, business acumen, and quantitative abilities to serve new-generation filmmakers both on non-profit and for-profit platforms.

Alexandra Syrenova graduated from HSE University Contemporary Art program and recognizes art as a complex subject that shapes society. The focus of her career is contemporary art and the dialogue that links artists with the audience, while her overarching goals are to provide better access to the general public, promote a more equitable cultural economy that better serves working artists and public, and create responsible cultural management strategies that are profitable, interdisciplinary, and inclusive. 

She is a member of the International Federation of Artists, as well as a member of the Russian Union of Artists, and a recipient of a scholarship from the Creative Association of Artists of Russia in the category of Latest trends. She has curated and participated in more than 20 exhibitions, including no truth and Moscow Biennale, managed the development and opening of NIMA museum. Ultimately, she intends to continue her career in art management. 

Yihui Tang graduated from Otis College of Art and Design in 2023, where she earned a BFA in Fashion Design. Recognizing the cultural and economic impact of visual arts, Yihui is passionate about promoting arts communication and integrating arts education into local communities. With a strong background in design, market research, and business analysis, Yihui is well-prepared for graduate study in arts management. During her undergraduate study, Yihui has completed internships at PwC and Gucci, where they gained valuable insights into data analysis, marketing, and brand management. Additionally, Yihui has taken various courses in marketing, financial accounting, statistics, and Python to enhance their business and analytical skills. Yihui's long-term goal is to establish an art organization dedicated to supporting government and small artist programs, facilitating art financing and evaluation, and promoting art education in collaboration with schools and communities. Now Yihui is excited to join Columbia University's Arts Administration program. She is eager to contribute her interdisciplinary educational background and experiences to enrich the student body and actively engage in initiatives related to intercultural communication and creative design.

Leia Tyebjee graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a Bachelor of Arts, concentrating in Visual Arts. Her interests include theatre and analog photography. Upon graduating, Leia worked at David Zwirner and Gagosian Gallery and currently works at a Mumbai based auction house, Pundole’s. Leia is passionate about working with young artists, providing them with a platform to showcase and promote their work. Additionally, she is interested in Indian art and its role in international spaces. 

Zhengxin Ran graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She also graduated from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2023 with a studio certificate. She was a sculptor and painter focused on representational work. During her undergraduate studies, in addition to fine art practices, she found her interest in art history, museum anthropology, and art management. She has had the opportunity of learning from experienced curators in person at several of Philadelphia's leading museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With a particular love of natural history, she chose to volunteer at the first natural history museum in the United States to be established for the purpose of free public education, Wagner's Free Institution of Science. She aspires to learn at ARAD about the connection of art and artwork to art dealers and business, as well as the different approaches and attitudes towards art appreciation and management around the world. She hopes to become a qualified personal studio operator after graduation.

Xinyu Qiao was born in Suzhou, China and graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Communication Design in 2023. With an educational background in China, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Xinyu developed her interest in art through different cultural aspects. As a visual graphic designer, she experienced art across print and digital media, marketing collateral, advertisements, events, web design and social media forms. Xinyu is exuberant about the opportunities in the ARAD program and hopes to explore the practice of art in business and bridge the gaps between art and the public.

Hugo Vaz is an actor, poet, singer-songwriter and cultural entrepreneur from Goiás, central Brazil. Born to a family of artists, he has been involved with the performing arts both on and backstage ever since a very tender age. Ahead of his band, MAZOMBO, he has been performing concerts and recording original songs for nearly ten years. With a major in International Relations, he did part of his undergraduate studies in Liège (Belgium) and Raleigh (USA), which has helped him become a French and English teacher too. He has also worked as the international spokesperson of several dance and music festivals, as well as an interpreter for corporate and official international meetings. Passionate about nature, folklore and traditional cultures, he takes a special interest in history and anthropology. He is currently involved in the revival of a cultural organization in his hometown and, as an Arts Administration student, he looks forward to bringing people together and joining a network of artists and entrepreneurs committed to freedom and social justice.

Jian Wang is from China and graduated from Brandeis University in 2022 with a double major in Sociology and Economics, and a minor in East Asian Studies. She believes art as a sensuous embodiment of cultural values, and as a medium integrating social revolution, aesthetic diversity, as well as emotional power. By applying cross-disciplinary skills, she is looking for art to become more inclusive to promote individual and social well beings. She participated in an educational institution dedicated to supporting kids with autism in her hometown and helped disadvantaged social groups with her enthusiasm for art by conducting fundraising, “art therapy” activities, art exhibition, etc. Last year, she also worked at an Artspace and furthered her professional growth in actual business operations. Her enthusiasm in both nonprofit and profit art inspires her to explore a new business model for art education to stimulate the genuine creativity of society.

Xinying Wang graduated from Boston College in 2022. Her interest and curiosity in arts and culture led her to major in Studio Art and minor in Art History. She has started her own business, designing and selling stationary and journaling supplies since her freshman year at Boston College. Through her experience working with artists worldwide, she has developed a more comprehensive understanding of arts and business and decided to pursue a career path as a curator, art business manager, and creative innovator who showcases artworks from Asian cultures on the global stage, forging multi-functional platforms that help young artists connect and reach a broader market. Xinying is excited about gaining leadership, data analysis, and marketing skills in ARAD and learning to apply them effectively to the art world. She is also looking forward to being part of the multicultural, diverse, and inclusive community at Teachers College.

Yuhan Wang graduated from the University of Arizona in 2022 with double bachelor degrees in East Asian Studies and Studio art. She has participated in design and marketing jobs at a children's education media company in Wuhan, China, and worked as a media assistant at Kuaikan Comics in Beijing. She also volunteered for Art Nova 100 art exhibitions in Beijing. Yuhan’s interest in the art business originates from her training as a studio art major, ranging from drawing, photography, design, and illustration. It has provided her with a foundation of art making and appreciation. Her volunteer work at the art exhibition sparked her interest in curating and opening up art spaces, as well as exploring more possibilities for balancing art and business. She is particularly interested in facilitating the practice of artistic, educational, and community practice in China, and also hopes to contribute to the still-developing but precious system. Joining the ARAD project, Yuhan is looking forward to improving her leadership skills and understanding of the art market and institutions. She hoped to cooperate with fellow students, local artists and other art practitioners to promote a vibrant art community.

Man (Alvin) Wang is a fresh graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a BFA degree in Graphic Design. Before coming to Columbia, he has been taking an active role in collaborating with those who come from different backgrounds on projects which incorporate the latest technologies and make people’s lives easier and better. His recent interests lie on how user experience of interacting with designs be improved by resorting to technologies such as AR and VR. In addition to design per se, Alvin concerns much on how to manage art business and how he could identify talented artists. Alvin has had some interesting observations of artists in Dafen Village of Shenzhen, China, the so-called world art factory. He dreams of running his own gallery connecting emerging and talented artists and the world. Alvin believes that the interdisciplinary knowledge in business, art and technology will thus be helpful to his goal. He was hence brought to the ARAD program at Columbia.

Yuxi Wang graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Music Arts Management. During her undergraduate years, she was both the founder and co-founder of two music therapy organizations: "Along with Music” Studio and “Feel&Hear” Studio.

Having established the first studio in China to combine music education with music therapy, her team is committed to serving vulnerable groups in society. It is for this reason that they have developed the "Starlight Yicai" course specifically for children with autism. In addition to providing a public welfare project, she interned at China National Opera and Shenzhen Singing Festival as a new media intern and assistant stage manager, respectively. As a result of Arad's study, Yuxi hopes to increase the role of art within the public cultural service system in society.

Katerina Chenyu Wang graduated from New York University, where she earned her BA degree in Economics and Art History and joined Phi Beta Kappa. With a strong passion for the arts and communication, she interned at Philo Art PR Agency, RF Thunder—A Ruder Finn Company, and Richard Taittinger Gallery, where she planned and executed previews and events for galleries, museums, art fairs, and music festivals. She is a founding member of STILLLIFE ART which organizes art fairs to provide opportunities to emerging creative talents, as well as K&W Creative Agency, which connects artists and illustrators with art institutions and brands. Katerina intends to work alongside artistic geniuses as she delves deeper into the art industry. She is enthusiastic about supporting creativity and making the arts accessible, equitable, and inclusive to all. At ARAD, she is especially interested in collaborating with like-minded peers who are passionate about both visual and performing arts to learn how to increase the exposure of the arts, share the voice of emerging artists, and build a more sustainable art world.

Ming-Chen (Molody) Wu is a visual designer and artist from Taipei, Taiwan. She graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design and Fiber & Material Studies. After her undergraduate studies, she joined the Ink Shop Printmaking Center at Ithaca, New York as a Printmaker Associate. Serving in a mission-based organization with like-minded people invigorated Melody to contemplate her role in the arts and how she can cultivate a more embracing and engaging arts community in our ever-evolving world. As an artist herself, Melody intends to become a voice that advocates for diversity and accessibility in the arts, to ensure the creative futures of emerging contemporary artists.

Anna Xie received a BA with honors in Art History with a Museum Studies Emphasis and Communications from the University of California, Davis in 2023. Her commitment to 20th century and contemporary art and architecture, particularly Asian, led her to navigating art scenes internationally. She has worked as an activity coordinator and education intern for the Manetti Shrem Museum Student Coalition and Pence Gallery in California, as well as a gallery intern at ZiWU Bookstore & Gallery, Modern Media Group in Shanghai. Aiming to spark active conversations and promote community arts accessibility and advocacy, she planned initiatives and programs including free public art lectures, workshops, and events for children, students and faculty, and community members. Through further pursuit in Arts Administration, she aims to venture into cultural and social transformations of the global art landscape with academic, networking, and leadership opportunities that ARAD offers.

Cleo Xu graduated from Pratt Institute in 2018, with BFA in Fashion Design. After graduation, she had worked as a designer, an illustrator, and a fashion jewelry buyer. During her time working as a jewelry buyer she enjoyed the process of discovering new designers and artists. She is also a freshly graduated gemologist from GIA.

Yitan Xu completed a successful ten-year career in real estate in Hong Kong before deciding to pursue her passion for art. She previously graduated from Sotheby’s Institute of Art New York with a master degree in Art Business. She is passionate about the aesthetics, cultures and humanities behind art. Yitan aims to support emerging artists by unlocking their artistic potential and commercial value in the art world while becoming an advocate of Asian art and culture in the world.

Kathryn Yang is an artist and curator based in Chicago. She received her BFA in Painting and Arts Administration from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 2023, where she developed her technical skills and learned to merge her passion for art with the practicalities of running an art organization. With a focus on nostalgia, her paintings capture fleeting memories and emotions through a vivid interplay of color and form. Her creative interests extend beyond painting, as she has previously worked at Compound Yellow, an experimental art organization in Chicago, where she was responsible for its MdW fair and served as a lead in the 2022 Multiple Goods Fair. In addition to her work at Compound Yellow, she worked as an assistant curator at the Tsinghua University Art Museum (TAM), where she was responsible for exhibitions including 100 Years of Design History: The Biagetti-Koening Collection and Marvelous Colors, Manifold Forms: Cultural Exchanges in Glass Art Among the Ancient East and West.

As a creative individual, she has also spearheaded curatorial projects, including Dine With Us and Hope & Darkness. Her passion for art expands to the film industry, where she is an active art director for multiple film projects. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the world of fine dining and winery, investigating and writing comments on these experiences.

Zichen (Aidan) Yu graduated from the University of South Carolina, where he earned his BA in Science of Tourism Management. During his four years of study in hospitality, Aidan realized that the arts are the core of cultural tourism and always need more exposure. Aside from his hospitality experiences, Aidan has also worked in multiple symphony orchestras in China and the United States, including China National Symphony Orchestra and South Carolina Philharmonic. He is also a clarinetist who has been playing in different orchestras internationally for the past five years. Aidan aims to combine his passion for the arts with his hospitality industry knowledge to create unique and memorable experiences for travelers. He hopes to use his skills and experiences to help bridge the gap between cultures and promote cross-cultural understanding.

Yiqin (Apple) Zhang is a graduate from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts in International and Global Studies and a double minor in Art History and Business. Born in Shanghai, China, she was set on the studying abroad journey at a very young age of 12, thus developing a strong passion in globalization and the arts, especially in gallery curating, management, and PR in the art field. She enjoys exploring new fields to work in and has interned at various corporations including Ogilvy & Mather Inc, LVMH, T-Art Gallery in Shanghai and Logitech Company.  She also volunteered and developed art and English training and teaching programs in Gansu, China. A core concept underpinning her motivation for art is to foster 21st-century skills such as creativity and communication in urban art development and to close the skill gap between the urban and rural parts of the world. She is very much excited to start her journey where a broad spectrum of interests in arts come together. Apple feels extremely fortunate to be part of a collaborative cohort, and looks forward to making transformational change together in the art world.

Léo Zhang is a visual artist from Windhoek, Namibia. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2022 with high distinction in Studio Art and Global Studies. Post graduation, Léo completed a year-long artist residency as an Aunspaugh Fellow in the UVA Art Department working with Federico Cuatlacuat. During his time in Charlottesville, he has worked for local galleries and art spaces such as Visible Records, Second Street Gallery, and Le Yeux du Monde. His interest in artist advocacy and accessibility has allowed him to work with organisations such as the Undocu+ collective. Léo hopes to utilise the ARAD curriculum to learn more about community-based work and art spaces as a driver for community organising and advocacy.

Ruoyue Zhang graduated from the University of British Columbia (Sauder School of Business) with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. She was born in Beijing, China, and raised in Singapore, where she developed a passion for the visual arts. During her undergraduate studies in Vancouver, she worked and volunteered for the Contemporary Art Gallery Vancouver, Vancouver Visual Art Foundation, and the Chinese Canadian Museum. Her academic interest lies in public art, the presence of underrepresented artists, and the emerging NFT industry. She is excited to learn from the exceptional faculty and peers in the ARAD program and looks forward to making meaningful impacts in the field of arts administration.

Wenjie (Demi) Zhao is a multifaceted artist, writer, and scholar dedicated to making art accessible through innovative and creative communication. Originally from Nantong, China, Demi recently graduated from New York University with Magna Cum Laude honors. She was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa society and recognized as a member of Pi Delta Phi. 

During her undergraduate studies, Demi explored a diverse array of interests and expertise in visual arts. She double majored in Art History and French, and further broadened her knowledge by minoring in Psychology, Studio Art, and Digital Art & Design. Driven by a passion for Arts Administration, Demi has cultivated an extensive background in Digital Marketing, Public Relations, and Audience Engagement. 

Demi’s previous internships at esteemed organizations such as Ogilvy, Hill + Knowlton Strategies, The Armory Show, Fu Qiumeng Fine Art, and Musée Magazine have equipped her with invaluable experience in advertising and public relations, social media management, art fair and gallery operations, and insightful writing about the art world. As she looks to the future, Demi is eager to deepen her expertise at ARAD and continue her mission of promoting art and creativity to an ever-growing audience.

Baiqiang (Patrick) Zheng graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University with a B.A. degree in German, with a literature and economics focus, but with courses into art history and philosophy which strengthened his passion for art and its connection to culture, he began to volunteer in various art foundations, art spaces and media companies, witnessing the operations of a variety of artistic organizations. Throughout his investment and finance careers of the past 7 years, he has maintained a close connection with art, working with art institutes, investors and government bodies to foster the development of art in China. Most recently at Matrix Partners, he has explored the trends in domestic art, meeting with curators, art professors and students of fine art universities to explore the potential of art variety shows, popularization of art foundations, and methods for broadening aesthetic education. In ARAD, he looks forward to explore further how such digital technologies, combined with increased transparency and improved regulation, can improve the art market in the years to come.

Hengheng (Elena) Zhou, a fashion design and photography graduate from Pratt Institute (2022), found her passion in researching and experimenting with edible collections. Thriving in various fashion and art management roles in New York, Elena is driven by her enthusiasm for sustainable design and administration.

Excited to embrace new horizons, she eagerly joins Teachers College to collaborate with peers and explore the wider world of arts administration. Elena plans to leverage the ARAD program to advocate for sustainable design and community education, fostering an environmentally conscious creative community. Her unwavering dedication to arts administration and sustainable design promises a lasting impact on the industry, empowering others to follow a path of environmental responsibility and artistic innovation.

Daniel Zhu graduated with Honours from the University of British Columbia with a B.Sc in Applied Animal Biology and a Diploma in Art History. Daniel has always held a deep appreciation for both the natural world and the arts, with his love for animals intersecting his passion for creative expression at every stage of his journey. Daniel has interned at the Vancouver Centre of International Contemporary Art as a gallery assistant, helping coordinate event logistics and host opening exhibits for renowned artists ranging from Javier Calleja to Hajime Sorayama. Daniel has also curated showings for private collections of Chinese contemporary artists and has experience working with branding, clienteling, and visual merchandising at Gucci. Daniel comes from a family of contemporary artists, and hopes to apply his multidisciplinary background to provide a fresh perspective in further catalyzing the bridging of the Asian and Western art scenes and to lend a meaningful voice to those who have been left unheard through innovative exhibition practices.

Xiaojing Zhu has an interdisciplinary background in art history, design and curating. She graduated with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree from The Communication University of China and The New York Institute of Technology in 2021. With a dedication to the localisation context of art, she worked in different non-profit independent art institutions in China such as DRC. No.12, The Bunker Space and is the public program curator of the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art at present. She aims to utter the characteristic sound of those veiled native narratives in sociopolitical perspectives through the potentiality of contemporary art in China and advocate for the extensive connection between art and the public in a systematic cognition. Her academic research is focusing on geopolitics, gender consciousness, and intertwined design history under globalization in the contemporary art field. As a writer, she mostly published her critics and exhibition reviews on different platforms. Xiaojing is looking forward to collaborating with her peers and being inspired by them at Columbia University.

Yuejia Zhu is from China and graduated from The New School, Parsons in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration and a minor in Economics. From 2020 to the present, she gained a lot of hands-on experience in various positions in the Chinese art industry and became more aware of and empathized with the plight of the artist community during the pandemic. While planning a rural art exhibition in China, she learned firsthand how difficult it is to balance income and expenses, which is the case for many non-profit organizations and independent artists.

ARAD is a very exciting start for Yuejia. She has the ambition to explore new opportunities for both artists and audiences in today's world by fostering the development of the creative industry through innovative integrations and collaborations.