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Inspiring others to make
the world a better place

We believe that we you combine a curious mind, a tenacious will and an industrious spirit with a caring heart you have the power to transform your life and the world around you

Inspiring others to make
the world a better place

We believe that we you combine a curious mind, a tenacious will and an industrious spirit with a caring heart you have the power to transform your life and the world around you

jeff shih

Associate Dean of Student &
Community Development, UNLV

What drives your interest in
tackling problems?

I am most interested in addressing issues that have real impact on communities, especially when they are education-related and have direct impact on children. 
As a child, I remember  memorizing state capitals, but the significant achievements of Asian Americans throughout history was not a part of the regular curriculum. By increasing awareness among current teachers and giving them the tools to share those stories in their classrooms. I think we can preserve the memory of those who came before us and learn from them.
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huan wang

Social Science Scholar, Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions

What drives your interest in
tackling problems?

What drives my passion for tackling problems is their potential to yield a positive impact on the pressing issue of advancing human development and fostering a better world. At the core of my motivation is the commitment to helping students realize their educational dreams, recognizing education as the bedrock for both personal and societal growth.
I am drawn to all facets that contribute to human flourishing, encompassing both mental and physical well-being. My approach is anchored in the rigorous application of causal inference methods, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to assess potential solutions and gauge their effectiveness. Over the past decade, my research has been dedicated to comprehending and addressing the disparities experienced by underserved populations in China, particularly within the context of bridging the urban-rural divide.
learn more

jeff shih

Associate Dean of Student &
Community Development, UNLV

What drives your interest in
tackling problems?

I am most interested in addressing issues that have real impact on communities, especially when they are education-related and have direct impact on children. 
As a child, I remember  memorizing state capitals, but the significant achievements of Asian Americans throughout history was not a part of the regular curriculum. By increasing awareness among current teachers and giving them the tools to share those stories in their classrooms. I think we can preserve the memory of those who came before us and learn from them.
learn more

huan wang

Social Science Scholar, Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions

What drives your interest in
tackling problems?

What drives my passion for tackling problems is their potential to yield a positive impact on the pressing issue of advancing human development and fostering a better world. At the core of my motivation is the commitment to helping students realize their educational dreams, recognizing education as the bedrock for both personal and societal growth.
I am drawn to all facets that contribute to human flourishing, encompassing both mental and physical well-being. My approach is anchored in the rigorous application of causal inference methods, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to assess potential solutions and gauge their effectiveness. Over the past decade, my research has been dedicated to comprehending and addressing the disparities experienced by underserved populations in China, particularly within the context of bridging the urban-rural divide.
learn more

daniel l. young

Associate Professor
School of Integrated Health Sciences -Physical Therapy, UNLV

What drives your interest in tackling problems?

A couple of the key values that give foundation to my life and work are being of service to others and lifelong learning. Problems that create harm or suffering for people are problems that I want to work on, especially if I will have the opportunity to learn new concepts or skills along the way.
My clinical training as a physical therapist and my research training in epidemiology and statistics lead me to be interested in large scale problems at the health system and even population level related to rehabilitation.​
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daniel johnson, md

Professor of Pediatrics, 
University of Chicago Medicine

What inspires you to give back?

My upbringing and culture have always emphasized the importance of work and looking after not only those who you love but also others as well. Growing up in Chicago on the southside of the city helped me to see firsthand the consequences of racism, sexism, antisemitism, and other forms of oppression. All that sensitized me to the need to fight for not just my own place in the world but for righting the wrongs that others experience.
I am privileged by how our society operates and I should pay forward the advantages I have experienced to help those who are not as fortunate. To quote former US President John F
Kennedy, “One person can make a difference and every person must try.” That thought inspires me to give back.
learn more

daniel l. young

Associate Professor
School of Integrated Health Sciences -Physical Therapy, UNLV

What drives your interest in tackling problems?

A couple of the key values that give foundation to my life and work are being of service to others and lifelong learning. Problems that create harm or suffering for people are problems that I want to work on, especially if I will have the opportunity to learn new concepts or skills along the way.
My clinical training as a physical therapist and my research training in epidemiology and statistics lead me to be interested in large scale problems at the health system and even population level related to rehabilitation.​
learn more

daniel johnson, md

Professor of Pediatrics, 
University of Chicago Medicine

What inspires you to give back?

My upbringing and culture have always emphasized the importance of work and looking after not only those who you love but also others as well. Growing up in Chicago on the southside of the city helped me to see firsthand the consequences of racism, sexism, antisemitism, and other forms of oppression. All that sensitized me to the need to fight for not just my own place in the world but for righting the wrongs that others experience.
I am privileged by how our society operates and I should pay forward the advantages I have experienced to help those who are not as fortunate. To quote former US President John F
Kennedy, “One person can make a difference and every person must try.” That thought inspires me to give back.
learn more

scott rozelle, phd

Faculty Co-Director of the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions

What inspires you to give back?

A Mom’s hug of thanks … nearly 9 years after visiting her in her old adobe house in a remote canyon of a faraway village in the Qinling Mountains … when I returned to her village … and her now 10 year old child that was nearly autistic when the child was 18 months old is testing in the top of her class in a high quality elementary school in the county seat!

xinshu she, md

Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Stanford University School of Medicine

What inspires you to give back?

Communities with limited resources around the world remind me always of the incredibly resilient human spirit that can thrive under the most challenging circumstances.​
I remember my first trip to rural Guizhou in 2009, where a rural doctor started elementary school at age 12 because she was a girl, and her parents could not pay to support her. She begged her neighbors and sewed clothes for years to pay for her own schooling. She then worked in construction after high school for years, to finally be able to finish her medical education. Instead of going to a richer city to live a comfortable life, she stayed in her native remote village to serve up to 600 people living in huts on the mountains and responding to medical emergencies 365 days a year.

scott rozelle, phd

Faculty Co-Director of the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions

What inspires you to give back?

A Mom’s hug of thanks … nearly 9 years after visiting her in her old adobe house in a remote canyon of a faraway village in the Qinling Mountains … when I returned to her village … and her now 10 year old child that was nearly autistic when the child was 18 months old is testing in the top of her class in a high quality elementary school in the county seat!

xinshu she, md

Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Stanford University School of Medicine

What inspires you to give back?

Communities with limited resources around the world remind me always of the incredibly resilient human spirit that can thrive under the most challenging circumstances.​
I remember my first trip to rural Guizhou in 2009, where a rural doctor started elementary school at age 12 because she was a girl, and her parents could not pay to support her. She begged her neighbors and sewed clothes for years to pay for her own schooling. She then worked in construction after high school for years, to finally be able to finish her medical education. Instead of going to a richer city to live a comfortable life, she stayed in her native remote village to serve up to 600 people living in huts on the mountains and responding to medical emergencies 365 days a year.

a day in life of the ctf alumni billy cai

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