Beginning July 1, the University of Chicago Center in Beijing welcomes Professor Paola Iovene, Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, as its new Faculty Director.
Professor Iovene was originally scheduled to assume the role in 2026. Due to family circumstances, she elected to defer the appointment by one year. During the interim, Professor Dali Yang, the Center's founding Faculty Director and the William Claude Reavis Professor in the Department of Political Science, graciously agreed to serve as Interim Faculty Director, providing continuity and guidance during the transition.
The Center extends its sincere appreciation to Professor Yang for his dedicated leadership and steadfast support over the past year. His service ensured continued momentum across the Center's academic programs, institutional partnerships, and strategic initiatives.
Looking ahead, Professor Iovene brings a compelling vision for strengthening the Center's academic engagement and expanding interdisciplinary collaboration across the University. She will officially introduce herself to the Beijing team during a virtual meeting with Center staff on August 3 and plans to be in residence at the Center from September through November. During her stay, she will work closely with faculty, students, alumni, and institutional partners while launching several new academic initiatives, including a public lecture series highlighting University of Chicago scholarship.
The Faculty Director provides the academic leadership that connects the Center with faculty and departments across the University. Professor Iovene's appointment marks the beginning of a new phase for the Center, with an emphasis on expanding faculty engagement, interdisciplinary programming, and the Center's role as a platform for academic collaboration in China.
