The Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch Fellowships in Asian Studies
About the Fellowships
It is important for America to continue to train future leaders with strong expertise in Asia. To mark its 35th anniversary, the F.Y. Chang Foundation launched the Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch Fellowships in Asian Studies with the support of LiUNA, Laborers’ International Union of North America. The JCB Fellowships will nurture the next generation of Asian specialists and Asia-engaged leaders in the U.S. by encouraging student research on Asia, particularly China, and its important relationship to the United States.
These competitive awards are open to undergraduate students at specific institutions, beginning in 2023 with students at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Miami. The awards will provide each fellow with $1500 to complete a research project on strategic, political, economic, or socio-cultural issues related to Asia.
Meet the 2024-25 Fellows:
George Washington University Cohort
Marlon Demandt is a German Fulbright Scholar pursuing a Master’s degree in International Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, during which he completed exchange semesters at Seoul National University in South Korea and Sciences Po in France. Mr. Demandt will explore contemporary Sino-American relations, focusing on critical issues such as Taiwan and its pivotal semiconductor industry, as well as the influence of natural resources on Chinese foreign policymaking. He is also keenly interested in how Sino-American dynamics affect economically interdependent nations like Germany. His project examines the intersection of natural resources and security in contemporary China and their broader implications for international relations.
Erin Naumann is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Asian Studies with specialization in China Policy and Economics from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Erin served as an intern for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and later worked as a corporate litigation paralegal. She also served as a Cultural Ambassador for the Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program, a youth development program sponsored by the US Embassy in Riyadh. Erin graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with concentrations in Legal Studies and Chinese. She completed Nankai University’s College for Chinese Language and Culture. Her project examines China’s energy security policy, industrialization through trade, and engagement with the Middle East regarding the import of hydrocarbons.
University of Miami Cohort
Saba Naseem’s project investigates the intersection of mental health policies and cultural influences in China. Utilizing a combination of literature review, qualitative interviews, quantitative data analysis, and case studies, her research analyzes how Confucian values, collectivism, and globalization shape perceptions of mental health and drive policy reform. She aims to explore the influence of traditional values and stigma on mental health treatment in China, the effects of globalization on policy reforms, and the effectiveness of international collaborations in addressing cultural needs. This project aspires to develop culturally sensitive policy recommendations that enhance mental health access, reduce stigma, and promote international best practices in mental health governance across East Asia.
Thomas Matos’s project explores the influence of U.S.-China competition in the green technology sector on Japan’s environmental policies and its role in trilateral climate diplomacy. This research examines how Japan, as an innovator in green technology and a key diplomatic actor, balances its relationships with the U.S. and China amid growing tension between the two superpowers. Through case studies and key interviews, this project assesses the implications of these dynamics for global climate efforts, particularly in the areas of electric vehicle production and renewable energy development, and Japan’s contributions to international environmental cooperation.