Our People
Suisheng (Sam) Zhao
Executive Director
Phone: 303-871-2401
Email: CCUSC@du.edu
Suisheng (Sam) Zhao is Professor and Executive Director of the Center for China – U.S. Cooperation (CCUSC) at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. He is founder and editor of The Journal of Contemporary China (JCC), a member of the Board of governors of the US Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asian Pacific (USCSCAP), a member of the National Committee on US-China Relations, a Research Associate at the Fairbank Center for East Asian Research in Harvard University, and a honorary jianzhi professor at Beijing University, Renmin University and Fudan University, A Campbell National Fellow at Hoover Institution of Stanford University, he was Associate Professor of Political Science/International Studies at Washington College in Maryland, Associate Professor of Government/East Asian Politics at Colby College in Maine and visiting assistant professor at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California- San Diego. He received a Ph.D in political science from the University of California – San Diego, a M.A. degree in sociology from the University of Missouri and a M.A. degree in economics from Peking University. He is the author and editor of 10 books and numerous articles.
Student Administrative and Editorial Assistants
Rozalia Schleinig
Rozalia Schleinig is a master’s student in the global economic affairs degree program at the Korbel School. She earned her bachelor’s in international studies with a minor in Chinese studies from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Before attending the Korbel School, Rozalia worked in supply chain management for a sustainable agriculture nonprofit and was an agriculture extension volunteer for the Peace Corps in Madagascar. In her free time, Rozalia enjoys trying out new recipes, hiking, and going to the beach in her home state of Rhode Island.
Eduardo Maya
Eduardo Maya is a master's student in the international security degree program with a regional specialization in China at the Korbel School. He also plans to complete a certificate in homeland security. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado, Participating in the Ronal E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Before graduating Eduardo was recognized as an Honors Recipient by the department of anthropology at the 2020 College of Humanities and Social Sciences Honors Convocation, went on to win first place at the University of Northern Colorado’s Research Day under the category of Undergraduate Poster in Social Sciences, Education, & Business and was accepted to present his research project at the University of Maryland's National Conference for McNair Scholars. In his free time, Eduardo likes to further his understanding of history, read books and articles on China, as well as engage in outdoor activities such as mountain biking and kayaking.
Kathryn Walsh
Kathryn Walsh is currently pursuing a master’s in cybersecurity at the University of Denver and graduated with a master’s in international security in 2019. Before attending graduate school, she worked in nonproliferation at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Kathryn has spent two semesters studying abroad in China where she studied Mandarin and increased her understanding Chinese affairs. During the summer of 2021, Kathryn served as a research intern at Secure World Foundation (SWF) and is an author on the paper "Identifying Gaps in U.S. Perceptions of China's Commercial Space Sector" released by SWF and the Caelus Foundation. Kathryn's areas of interest include emerging technologies, critical infrastructure, and Chinese affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in international policy economy from Colorado College.
Joe Kallmeyer
Joe Kallmeyer is pursuing a master’s degree in international studies. Before attending graduate school, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Portland State University. In his free time, he enjoys hiking in the Colorado mountains.
Cheng Hsi (Jessica) Ku
Anna and John J. Sie International Relations Complex Email: Jessica.ku@du.edu
Jessica Ku is a graduate student in the International Studies program with a specialization in conflict resolution. She is a Taiwanese that dedicated to learning to create a peaceful relationship between China and Taiwan. Moreover, with her experience of interning at a refugee shelter in Berlin, she has a strong interest in improving human interactions to enhance world harmony.
In Jessica’s free time, she likes to read the news and watching Asian dramas to learn about different cultural perspectives. Therefore, Jessica likes to listen to different perspectives to have more understandings about the differences that coexist in the world.
Qi Xia
Email: Qi.Xia@du.edu
Shuangqi Xia is a graduate student in the International Studies program at the Josef Korbel School for International Studies, University of Denver. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse with a major in Political Science and a minor in International Studies. Before graduating he served as a GIS intern at the Planning Department for the City of La Crosse. Qi is specifically interested in the studies of International Political Economy and Development Policy. In his free time, Qi enjoys reading books about Chinese rural development and exercisin
Visiting Scholars
To foster intellectual exchanges among scholars, CCUSC established a Visiting Scholars program by inviting rising and established Chinese scholars, officials, business and professionals to stay in Denver from three months to a year. These Chinese scholars and officials have participated in current research projects and interacted with graduate students. In addition, CCUSC has enhanced its profile with the new generation of Chinese intellectuals, emerging business community and government leaders.
CCUSC hosts visiting scholars from China to come and stay for six months to two years to do research on a variety of studies. Hosting more than 25 scholars, CCUSC currently has six at the University of Denver. They come from a range of schools such as China Youth University for Political Sciences, School of International Studies Liaoning University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shanghai Jiaotong University and Hunan University.
