Faculty & Staff

· Viswanathan, M., Goreczny, A., Sreekumar, A. Cai, X., (Accepted, 2025). Impact Through Being Bottom-Up in Multi-fold Realms: Lessons from Journeying to Subsistence Marketplaces and Marketplace Literacy. European Journal Marketing.

· Cai, X. (2023). Pedagogical exploration in teaching internationally and learning globally post Covid-19: Moving “Global Classrooms” /COIL to “GOOC” and beyond. In Shirley Marie McCarther & Donna M. Davis (Eds.) Breakthrough: From Pandemic Panic to Promising Practice. A volume in the series: History of Education. (Ed.) Curtis Mason. Information Age Publishing.

· Viswanathan, M., Cai, X. Sreekumar, A., Duncan, R. (2022). Global Virtual Immersion in the Post-Covid World: Lessons Learned in Moving from Sympathy to Informed Empathy in Subsistence Marketplaces. Journal of Teaching in International Business.33(4).

· Cai, X. (2021). Theories of international development, gender, and education. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. Oxford University Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.1327

· Cai, X. (2020): Discourse of ‘helping the poor’: rethinking global poverty and its pedagogical possibilities in higher education, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, DOI: 10.1080/01596306.2020.1843115

· Goel, K.; Cai, X.; Ogwal, S.; Wong, A.; Engel, LC.; McCarthy, C. (2020). The world before us: reappraising globalization in education in the tumult of contemporary change, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, DOI: 10.1080/01596306.2020.1836744

· Cai, X. (2020). Toward a Pedagogy of Cooperative Learning: A Review of Education and Democratic Participation: The Making of Learning Communities. Democracy and Education, 28(2).

· Zilonka , R. Cai, X. Carvajal, N., Chung, G.. (2019). “Where are we from?” A Critical Community Autoethnography of Place, Space, and Belonging By Ph.D. International Female Student-Scholar-Activists in the U.S.. International Journal of Critical Pedagogy, 10 (1), pp. 31-50.

· Cai, X. (2017). “‘Assembling a We’ in the Forum of Critical Chinese Qualitative Inquiry: Reflections on Intellectual Activism in the Forum of Critical Chinese Qualitative Inquiry.” Annual Report for Forum for Critical Chinese Qualitative Research, International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/conferences/fccqr/en/q1-2017-reflection/

· Cai, X. (2016). “Observations from Co-Passengers in the Bottom-up Journey” in Bottom-up Enterprise: Insights from Subsistence Marketplaces by Madhu Viswanathan.

· Cai, X. (2015). A Book Review of Education and Democracy in the 21st Century. Democracy and Education, 23 (1).

· Associate Editor, Oxford Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality in Education, Oxford University Press.

· Co-editor, Special Issue on “Rethinking Globalization: New Perspectives on Education in the Tumult of Global Change,” Discourse: The Cultural Politics of Education

· Reviewer, Review of Chinese Higher Education, Institute of Education, Xiamen University

· Co-editor, International Higher Education, Institute of Education, Xiamen University

· Intern, Editorial Development Group, Educational Philosophy and Theory

· Reviewer, International Journal of Technology and Design Education

· Reviewer, Critics Choice Book Award, American Educational Studies Association

· Reviewer, Conference Proposals for Comparative and International Education Society

· Reviewer, South African Journal of Education

School of Foreign Language and Culture, Xiamen University       Oct.-Nov. 2025

· Provided workshops on four topics, including “Global Poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals”, “Climate Action”, “Gender Equity” and “Quality Education”

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA Sept.2022

· Discussed the topic “Capabilities Approach and Its Application in Higher Education”

University of Pedagogy and Technology, Colombia May 2022

· Discussed the topic “Connecting Research with Community and the Self”

· Mentored master students’ research projects

National University of Colombia               April 2022

· Discussed the topic on “From Research Questions to Research Proposals and Applying for International Scholarships”

University of Antioquia, Colombia               April 2022

· Discussed the topic “Education for Sustainable Development: Global Goals and Local Actions”

· Presented on “English, Education, and Empowerment: A Journey of Intercultural Learning”

Qualitative Research Method, Yanjing Academy, Peking University   May 2021

· Discussed the topic on “Writing up Qualitative Research”

· Presented on ethnographic research from conceptual-empirical work to writing and publication

Academic Symposium & Forum in the Institute of Education at Xiamen University, China

· Qualitative Research Writing and SSCI Academic Journal Publication May 2021

· The Idea of “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” and Higher Education Pedagogies and Research: Praxis and Explorations of an Overseas Returned Junior Faculty    Mar. 2021

· Comparative and International Education: Towards Global Studies in Education  July 2020

· Developments and Questions in Qualitative Research Methods      Oct. 2019

· Participating in Scholarly Conversations through Academic Conferences as an Integral Element of Professional Development for Graduate Students          July 2019

· International Academic Conferences and Proposal Writing        Oct. 2018

· Rethinking Higher Education towards Human Capabilities for Global Sustainable Development

· Fusing Philosophies of Pedagogy and Qualitative Inquiry: A Pedagogical Case Study in an Interdisciplinary Higher Education Program            Nov. 2017

· Exploring Integrative Higher Education Pedagogies in Grand Challenges Learning Programs: A Case Study on an International Experiential Education Initiative for Sustainable Development at a US Land-grant University              Oct. 2017

· Global Poverty and Sustainable Development: Exploring Higher Education Pedagogies: A Pedagogical Case Study on an International Interdisciplinary Experiential Education Initiative at a US Land-grant University              Jan. 2017

Africa Research Center, Belt and Road Research Institute, Xiamen University, China

· Presented on International Students from Africa in China               Apr. 2021

· Keynote speaker for Higher Education and Sustainable Development: Global Goals and Local Actions in the China-Africa Community            Mar. 2021

Climate Justice and Human Rights Oct. 2016

· Discussed the topic on “Global Poverty and Human Rights”

· Presented on the role of education in freedom from poverty as a human right

Gender Relations and International Development Apr. 2016

· Discussed the topic on gender and education in international development

· Presented human capital, human rights, and human capabilities approaches to education

Asian American Education Nov. 2015

· Discussed the topic: Asian Americans and Asian International Students in Higher Education

· Presented my research in understanding Asian international students in U.S higher education

· Introduced the courses and programs I developed to assist international students’ integration

Translating Culture and Daily Life: China and U.S. Feb. 2015

· Analyzed the documentary: Why Poverty—Education, Education (in China)

· Led discussions on topics such as privatization of education, poverty, school and society.

Asian American Cultural Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Feb. 2014

· “Food for Thought” Lunchtime Program

· “Global Studies in Education: The Asian Perspective” (co-lecturer)

College of Education and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, UIUC

· “Education in China/Chinese Students in the U.S.” Symposium organizer (Jan. 2014)

· “An Overview of Education in China” (Jan. 2014)

· “A transitioning educational system in a history of over 2,000 years of education” (Nov. 2012)

Department of Educational Programming, John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL Apr. 2012

· Lunch & Learn Multicultural Program

· “Education, Experience, and Empowerment” (Lecturer)

Department of Africana Studies, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL Fall 2011

· Course: Black American Experience in a Pluralistic Society

· Lectured on slave narratives of Frederick Douglas and Harriet Jacobs

Invited Lecturer in Chinese Universities and Schools Jan. 2005 - Present

· Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China

· Minnan Normal University, Zhagnzhou, China

· Xiamen Huaxia College, Xiamen, China

· Jiageng College, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China

· University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China

· Southwest Petroleum University, Sichuan, China

· Pinghe No.1 Middle School, Fujian, China

· Xiaoxi Central Primary School, Pinghe, Fujian, China

· Pinghe Vocational School, Fujian, China

From Xiamen University, China:

Fujian Province Teaching Impact Award Sept. 2023

Xiamen University Teaching Impact Award Jan. 2022

Teaching Excellence Award                  Mar. 2021

From International Academic Associations:

American Education Research Association Best Graduate Student Paper Award Apr. 2017

Awarded by AERA Philosophical Studies SIG for 2017 conference paper

Comparative and International Education Society New Scholars Merit Award Mar. 2017

Scholarship for New Scholars Publication Mentoring Workshop at 2017 conference

National Women’s Studies Association Travel Grant and Registration Scholarship June 2016

Awarded by the National Women’s Studies Association for NWSA 2016 conference

American Education Research Association Division J 2016 Graduate Student Award Apr. 2016

Awarded by AERA Division J: Postsecondary Education for 2016 conference paper

American Education Research Association Paulo Freire SIG 2016 Graduate Student Award  

Awarded by AERA Paulo Freire, Critical Pedagogy, and Emancipation SIG

Comparative and International Education Society 2016 New Scholars Merit Award

Scholarship for New Scholars Dissertation Mentoring Workshop at 2016 conference

American Education Research Association Graduate Student Award      Apr. 2014

Award for graduate students to participate in Division B: Curriculum Studies workshop

From University of Illinois:

College of Education Feinberg Award  Apr. 2017

Award for presentation at American Educational Research Association Philosophical Studies

Department Conference Travel Award Apr. 2017

Award for conference presentation at American Educational Research Association

Department Conference Travel Award Oct. 2016

Award for conference presentation at American Educational Studies Association

Due and Ferber International Research Award Mar. 2016

Awarded by International Programs and Services & Women and Gender in Global Perspectives

Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Dissertation Research Grant Mar. 2016

Awarded by Dept. of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership and the Graduate College

Study Abroad Scholarship by College of Education, UIUC        Oct. 2015

Scholarship for dissertation data collection in India

University Fellowship by Graduate College, UIUC              May 2015

Grant fellowship for dissertation data collection

Hardie Conference Travel Award by the Bureau of Educational Research, CoE, UIUC  Mar. 2015

Award for conference presentation at American Educational Research Association

Graduate College Conference Travel Award by Graduate College, UIUC   Mar. 2015

Award for conference presentation at Comparative and International Education Society

Department Conference Travel Award by EPOL, UIUC   Sep. 2012

Award for conference presentation at Comparative and International Education Society

Focal Point Projects for 2014-2015 by the Graduate College, U of I       Aug. 2014

“Diversity and Internationalization of Higher Education”

Hardie Conference Travel Award by the Bureau of Educational Research, CoE, UIUC  Mar. 2014

Award for conference presentation at American Educational Research Association

President’s Research in Diversity Travel Award by the President’s Office, U of I     Nov. 2013

Selected as one of the ten recipients of the award on all the three U of I campuses

Hardie Conference Travel Award by the Bureau of Educational Research, CoE, UIUC  Jan. 2013

Award for conference presentation at American Educational Studies Association

Department Conference Travel Award by EPOL, UIUC   Sep. 2012

Award for conference presentation at American Educational Studies Association

From Chinese Government and the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE):

State Scholarship Fund by the China Scholarship Council, Ministry of Education 2011 - 2015

Selected through a rigorous academic evaluation process by the China Scholarship Council

Graduate Grants for Study Abroad by Graduate School, UIBE 2010 - 2011

Comparative Studies on Curriculum and Pedagogy in SIUC and UIBE

University Academic Scholarship for Graduate Student by UIBE 2009

Top student in graduate studies based on academic performance

National Scholarship to Independent College Student by Chinese Government 2008

Competitive, national scholarship awarded to 8 university students in Beijing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Awardees are recognized for academic merit,

self-reliance (financing their own education and living) and service to their communities

National Scholarship by Ministry of Education, China         2005 - 2007

Competitive merit-based scholarship awarded annually to top student in each college

University Academic Scholarship for Undergraduate Student by UIBE   2004 - 2007

Top student in undergraduate studies based on academic performance for four years

Xiamen University:

Research Center for Higher Education Development

Researcher

· A Chinese Ministry of Education Key Research Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences

· Participate in the Vice President’s advisory committee for undergraduate education learning outcome assessment and co-write reports for related offices in the Ministry of Education

Center for International Higher Education at the Institute of Education

Staff Member

· Coordinate internationalization initiatives for the college

· Build institutional relationships with partner universities in the U.S and around the world

· Facilitate visiting scholars from the U.S, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR for academic exchanges and research collaborations

· Facilitate faculty and students to research abroad or study abroad in the U.S.

· Organize international academic conferences in higher education

· Mentor graduate and undergraduate students to present research at international conferences

Research Institute on the “Belt & Road” Initiative

Affiliated Faculty

· Coordinated the 2^nd and 3^rd Forum on the “Belt and Road” Initiative at Xiamen University

· Invited scholars from the “Belt & Road” participating countries to speak at the forums

· Coordinated international faculty and student initiatives for affiliated Africa Research Center

Committee for Doctoral, Master’s and International Student Admissions and Education

Committee Member

· Participate in the recruitment of doctoral, master’s and international students

· Engage international students in teaching, research, university and social services

Community-Engaged Learning and Service Learning Projects

Coordinator

· Work with governmental and non-governmental organizations on service learning projects

· Facilitate undergraduate community-engaged learning for sustainable development

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Business, UIUC

International Program Coordinator

· Designed professional development programs for international students and visiting scholars at the College of Education and from partner institutions in China

· Designed professional development programs for faculty and staff members at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to internationalize their curricular and co-curricular programs

· Developed, coordinated, and provided translation and interpretation for revenue generating Higher Education Summer Programs for professors, administrators, and students from Huazhong University, Xiamen University, Jiangxi Normal University, and Nantong Normal College

· Coordinated seminars in areas such as Internationalization of Higher Education, Philosophy of Education, Online Education, etc. and workshops at various offices around the campus such as the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, International Programs and Services, etc.

· Coordinated campus visits and lectures to Illinois State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Parkland College, Richland College, DePaul University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Wesleyan University, and University of Chicago, etc., to learn about different types of higher education programs in Illinois

· Coordinated the Opening of Confucius Institute at UIUC and wrote proposals to develop partnership programs between College of Education and Confucius Institute

· Coordinated study abroad program to Tanzania for students in the College of Business

· Assisted in the launching of iMBA program and its online teaching platform as volunteer

· Coordinated “Global Perspectives Speaker Series: Understanding Educational Diversity around the World”:

o Invited and organized international graduate students and visiting scholars to present the educational systems and educational issues in their home countries.

o The Speaker Series was developed into a campus initiative (I-Speak), partnered with International Students and Scholars Services office, to organize international students and scholars as guest speakers to outreach to local schools in Illinois.

o The campus initiative partnered with College of Education pre-service teachers to train international students and scholars to understand American local school cultures.

Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Executive Committee

· One of two student representatives on Women and Gender in Global Perspectives committee

· Advised and assisted the unit in program development around gender and development

Community in Global Studies in Education

· Organized writing group where students share and help construct each other’s writing

· Assisted in reading group, department symposium, and other community-building activities

· Coordinated professional development workshop series for graduate students

Asian American Cultural Center Advisory Committee

· Advised the Asian American Cultural Center in their program development and various projects

· Suggested programs for the Center to respond to the increase of international Asian students and the complexities of race issues in U.S beyond black and white.

Education Justice Project at UIUC

· Education Justice Project (EJP) is committed to expanding higher education within American prisons as a matter of justice, demonstrates the positive impacts of college-in-prison programs, and organizes educational programming at Danville Correctional Center through UIUC.

· Participated in EJP review committee providing awards for scholars working in the field.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

International Programs and Services, SIUC & University of International Business and Economics (UIBE)

University Partnership Programs Coordinator

· Coordinated between administrators and students at SIUC with their counterparts at UIBE

· Developed first SIUC-UIBE Tele-Conference to promote SIUC-UIBE exchange programs

· Worked as interpreter in SIUC-UIBE leadership meetings on exchange and joint programs

University of International Business and Economics

Graduate School, UIBE, Beijing, China

Student Work Office Director

· Researched on student work positions in graduate department and other departments at UIBE

· Developed professional development programs for students to work in and beyond UIBE

· Organized job training and orientation activities for over 200 disadvantaged students

Xiamen University:

International PhD Student Dissertation Projects and Undergraduate Research Projects

Adviser

· PhD Project: ACSEE Management Systemin Tanzania

· Undergraduate Research: Interdisciplinary Training for University Students to Promote the Sustainable Development of Rural Revitalization

· Undergraduate Research: Constructing Global Classrooms, Advancing Educational Equity

· Undergraduate Research: Undergraduate Education for Sustainable Development: Perspectives from Humanities and Social Sciences

· Undergraduate Research: Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into Undergraduate Education: from Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Perspectives

· Undergraduate Research: University Experiential Education and Poverty Alleviation: A Social Service Learning Project

· Undergraduate Research: Urban-Rural Integration and Sustainable Development: A Comparative Community-engaged Service Learning Project

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mentors and Scholarly Community Coordinators:

· Provided mentorship to peer and junior PhD students in education

· Built scholar communities through reading and writing groups as well as talking circles

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERSHIP & SERVICES

John Dewey Society

· Chair of Committee for Graduate Student and Emerging Scholars      Feb. 2022-Present

· Review Committee Member for Emerging Scholars Travel Stipend, Graduate Students and Emerging Scholars Paper Sessions, and Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award

· Student Working Group Founding Member Mar. 2013-2017

· Review Committee member for “Dewey Through Generations” Annual Panel

World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence May 2021-Present

· Coordinator of the Working Group on Intercultural & Global Competences in International Education

· Member of the Working Group on Intercultural & Global Competences and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia Dec. 2018-Present

· Member of Educational Philosophy and Theory Journal Editorial Development Group

Comparative and International Education Society Mar. 2014-Present

· Sustainability and Environmental Education Special Interest Group Co-Chair (2016-2018)

· Committee Member for the Early Careers Advancement Committee (2016-2017)

International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry May 2016-Present

· Outreach & Development Officer for the Forum of Critical Chinese Qualitative Research

American Educational Studies Association Aug. 2011-Present

· Program Committee member for 2014 & 2015 & 2016 Critics Choice Book Award

· Executive Assistant to the Program Chair for Annual Conference (2012-2014)

American Educational Research Association Apr. 2013-Present

Philosophy of Education Society Mar. 2013-Present

· Member for Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession (2013-2017)

· Program Chair Assistant for Annual Conference (2012-2013)

The Sixth Subsistence Marketplaces Conference: Developing Pathways at the Intersection of Interdisciplinary Research and Practice June 2016

· Program Co-chair for the track on Curricular Innovations

United Nations Volunteers Jun.2024-Present

Movers4Climate Education Support Community Volunteer

· Online Volunteer with UNDP to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

· Empowering Youth with SDGs-themed Workshops through the Movers Program in China

· As Movers Mentor, providing 15 Movers workshops on SDGs and 21^st century skills to university, high school and primary school students and teachers, benefiting 800 people so far

Pinghe No. 1 High School, Pinghe County, Fujian, China 2018-Present

Mentor

· Providing mentoring and motivational lectures to middle school students from rural areas

Pinghe Committee for the Wellbeing of the Youth, Zhangzhou, China 2004-Present

Mentor

· Established “Chuying Self-Resilience” Fellowship to mentor students from rural China

· Sponsored 8 rural students from disadvantaged backgrounds for college education

· Mentoring college and secondary school students from rural areas in Pinghe

Yanxing China Foundation, Beijing, China 2007-2010

Mentor

· Mentored college students from disadvantaged backgrounds in five universities in Beijing

Half-the-Sky Foundation (American), Beijing, China 2006-2008

Translator

· Translated beneficiaries’ growth reports and newsletters to the foundation and donors

Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China Jan. 2010-May 2010

Accenture Consultancy Co., (America), Beijing, China June 2009-Sept. 2009

China Daily News Agency, (China), Beijing, China June 2008-Sept. 2008

PR People Consultancy (Hong Kong, China), Beijing, China         July 2007-Sept. 2007

Monarch Computers Private Limited (India), Beijing, China Aug. 2007-May. 2008

Servier Pharmaceutical R& D Co. Ltd, (France), Beijing, China Jun. 2007-Aug. 2007

Languages:

Mandarin Chinese: Native Speaker

Minnan Dialect: Mother Tongue

English: Academic Language (Excellent Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Translating Abilities)

French: Basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities

Spanish: Beginner in listening and speaking

Computer: Microsoft Office, Visual Basics Programming, Website Design and Editing, AIGC tools

Online Teaching: Teach online with Collaborate and Moodle, Zoom, Canvas, and other platforms