Shanghai, China | November 14, 2026
NYU Shanghai and the US-China Education Trust (USCET) cordially invite scholars and students from all disciplines to participate in the American Studies Network (ASN) Conference, “America at 250: Where has it been and where is it going?” to be held in-person on November 14 in Shanghai. This conference marks a continued commitment to robust scholarly exchange even amid turbulence in the U.S.-China relationship.
In 2026, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, a milestone that invites reflection on American history, the evolution of its global role, and the social transformations that have defined and redefined the nation. For China and the United States — two powers whose relationship shapes the international order — this anniversary presents a timely occasion to engage in rigorous, cross-cultural examination of where America stands and where it is headed.
This year’s conference will bring together scholars from across disciplines to review America’s political development, social change, and foreign policy across 250 years, and to ask what these trajectories mean for the future of the international order and for U.S.-China relations. Held shortly after the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, the conference will also offer participants a timely opportunity to consider what the electoral outcome signals about the country’s political direction. At a moment when bilateral ties face significant headwinds, sustained scholarly dialogue remains an essential tool for reducing misunderstanding and building the foundations of a more stable relationship.
The 2026 ASN Conference features keynote addresses by distinguished scholars and practitioners from the United States, concurrent panel sessions across a range of disciplines, and the inaugural Next Generation U.S.-China Scholars Competition (supported by ThyssenTransp LLC), bringing emerging Washington-based China experts to present alongside conference participants in Shanghai.
Keynote Speakers
Charlie cook- Founder, Cook Political Report
Charlie Cook is the founder of the independent, non-partisan Cook Political Report and a longtime political analyst and columnist for National Journal. He has provided election analysis for NBC, CBS, CNN, and ABC and received the APSA Carey McWilliams Award for his contributions to political journalism.
David Barker- Professor of Government, American University; Nonresident Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings
David Barker is a professor of government at American University, a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings, and a faculty affiliate at the UVA/Vanderbilt Center for Effective Lawmaking. He previously directed the NSF’s Division of Social and Economic Sciences, AU’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, and Sacramento State’s Institute for Social Research. His research focuses on American politics, public opinion, political psychology, and governance.
Laura stone- U.S. Ambassador (ret.); Senior Advisor, DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group; Lecturer and Advisor, Stanford University
Ambassador Laura Stone is a senior advisor at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group and a lecturer and advisor at Stanford University. A former U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands and senior State Department official, she brings extensive expertise in China, Asia, economic statecraft, and global health security, and has served at posts in Beijing, Tokyo, Hanoi, and Bangkok.
John Delury- Resident Professor of International Politics, Hopkins-Nanjing Center
John Delury is the Resident Professor of International Politics at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (Johns Hopkins SAIS), specializing in modern Chinese history, Cold War international relations, and East Asian geopolitics. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Agents of Subversion: The Fate of John T. Downey and the CIA’s Covert War in China and co-author of Wealth and Power.
Sponsors
The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world. Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time, Inc., the Luce Foundation advances its mission by nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in leadership development.
Founded in 1955, VanEck is a global investment manager headquartered in New York. The firm offers active and passive investment strategies across ETFs, mutual funds, institutional portfolios, and private funds, serving individual and institutional investors in markets around the world.
Christina Wang
Christina Wang is the general manager of ThyssenTransp LLC. Her generous support makes the ThyssenTransp LLC Next Generation U.S.-China Scholars Competition possible, bringing emerging American voices on China into dialogue with leading scholars from both countries.
Andy (chi) Zhang
Andy (Chi) Zhang Chi is the founder and managing director of SINOM Group.
Donor Opportunities
conference sponsor
$50,000 in support of the conference and its central themes: Includes keynote session naming rights, VIP access, recognition across all materials, and opportunity for remarks
signature session sponsor
$30,000 in support of a major thematic conference panel: Includes panel session naming rights, VIP access, recognition across all materials, and opportunity for remarks
distinguished speaker sponsor
$15,000 in support of a U.S. keynote speaker: Includes breakout session naming rights, VIP access, recognition across all materials, and private engagements with scholars and next-gen experts
Next-generation sponsor
$10,000 in support of two next-generation China experts: Includes breakout session naming rights, VIP access, recognition across all materials, and private engagements with scholars and next-gen experts