IGHE Advisory Board
The Institute for Global Higher Education (IGHE) Advisory Board is composed of distinguished leaders in higher education, research, philanthropy, and industry who provide strategic guidance to advance the institute’s mission.
Drawing on expertise from leading universities and organizations around the world, the Advisory Board supports IGHE’s efforts to foster innovation in higher education, promote international collaboration, and generate research and dialogue on the future of universities. Through their diverse perspectives and experience, board members advise on strategic priorities, partnerships, and initiatives that strengthen IGHE’s global impact.
Advisory Board Members
CHEN Shuangye 陈霜叶
Professor and Associate Dean, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University
Shuangye Chen specializes in educational leadership, curriculum innovation, and education policy. She serves as Associate Dean of ECNU’s Faculty of Education at East China Normal University and Editor in Chief of the ECNU Review of Education. She published widely in English and Chinese on education policy and leadership.
William C. Kirby
Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration and T. M. Chang Professor of China Studies, Harvard University
Chairman, Harvard China Fund
William C. Kirby is the T. M. Chang Chair Professor of China Studies at Harvard University and the Spangler Family Chair Professor at Harvard Business School. Professor Kirby was awarded the title of Distinguished Contribution Professor at Harvard University, and now serves as the chairman of the Harvard China Fund and the Harvard Center Shanghai. At Harvard, Professor Kirby served as Director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Chairman of the history department, and Dean of the Harvard College of Arts and Sciences.
Wendy Kuran
Special Advisor to the Provost and Senior Director of Global Partnerships & Innovation, Duke University
Wendy Kuran Special Advisor to the Provost and Senior Director of Global Partnerships & Innovation at Duke University. She leads the development of strategic international partnerships that advance Duke’s global engagement, research, and educational priorities, while continuing to support Duke Kunshan University. She also co-leads fundraising and alumni engagement for the Provost’s Initiative on Pluralism, Free Inquiry, and Belonging, which promotes inclusive learning, dialogue across diverse perspectives, and academic innovation.
MA Lin 马琳
Education Foundation Board Director, IGHE Donor, Duke Kunshan University
Chairman, Beijing Jufeng Finance Technology Co., Ltd.
Ms. Ma Lin is Chairman of Beijing Jufeng Finance Technology Co., Ltd. She has over 20 years’ experience in business administration, with a focus on strategic planning, operations management and investment. She is the Co-chairman of Center for Global Governance Studies at Renmin University of China. She also serves as Vice Chairman of the Forever Nature Capital Foundation. Ms. Ma graduated from China University of Political Science and Law.
Linda Painan
Education Foundation Board Director, IGHE Donor, Duke Kunshan University
Founder and Chairperson of Global Economic Network; Founder and Chairperson of HerCircle
Ms. Linda Painan is a globally recognized entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cross-cultural connector. Born in Indonesia, a citizen of Singapore, and based in Shanghai for more than 30 years, she brings a unique perspective spanning Southeast Asia, China, and the wider world. As Founder and Chairperson of the Global Economic Network (GEN), she has championed international collaboration and supports initiatives that advance global engagement and higher education.
Noah Pickus
Head of Global Strategy and Partnerships, Senior Advisor to the Provost, Duke University
IGHE Global Director, Duke Kunshan University
Noah Pickus leads initiatives that shape academic strategy, global engagement, and educational innovation across the university. Noah is also the founder of the Future Universities Alliance, a global learning network that brings together start‑up, emerging, and established universities to co‑create innovative academic solutions and expand access to high‑quality education worldwide.
Gerard A. Postiglione
Emeritus Professor and Honorary Professor, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong
Gerard A. Postiglione is Emeritus Professor and Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. He previously served as Associate Dean for Research, Chair Professor in Higher Education, and Director of the Centre of Research on Education in China. An internationally recognized expert on higher education in China and East Asia, he has also led major regional research collaborations and advised organizations including UNESCO and the World Bank.
QIAN Yingyi 钱颖一
Professor and Former Dean (2006–2018), School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University
Yingyi Qian is one of China’s leading economists and a prominent voice in higher education reform. His research focuses on comparative and institutional economics, with particular emphasis on economic transition and institutional development. As dean of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management, he championed educational reform and played a pivotal role in promoting liberal arts education within Chinese research universities.
WANG Rong 王蓉
Director and Professor, China Institute for Educational Finance Research (CIEFR), Peking University
Rong Wang is one of China’s leading scholars in education finance and public policy. She directs the China Institute for Educational Finance Research at Peking University and serves as a member of China’s State Education Advisory Committee. Her research focuses on educational equity, rural education reform, and the effective allocation of public resources.
Jason Woodard
Professor and Co-Director, School of Innovation, The University of Hong Kong; Olin College of Engineering
Jason Woodard is a Professor and Co-Director of the School of Innovation at The University of Hong Kong, which he joined in 2025 to help prepare a new generation of innovators to tackle global challenges. Prior to HKU, he spent a decade at Olin College of Engineering, where he remains affiliated as a Senior Academic Partner. Earlier in his career, he was a faculty member at Singapore Management University’s School of Information Systems and worked for IBM in technical and marketing roles. He received an A.B. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in Information, Technology and Management.
