I work in the Hong Kong office of Perrett Laver, a UK-based consulting and executive search firm specializing in supporting universities and other mission-driven organizations.

After completing my doctorate I took a position as Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies at Underwood International College (UIC), a highly selective liberal arts program at Yonsei University, a leading university in South Korea. For a scholar of East Asian history, this role provided access to relevant conferences and sources as well as motivated, diligent students to whom premodern Chinese history was interesting and relevant. Faculty assessments at Yonsei occur every three years, with journal articles in print being the chief evaluation measure. The experience of co-teaching a course on early modern economic history with UIC colleagues and Prof. Kenneth Pomeranz of the University of Chicago inspired me to develop further modules examining the emergence of modern business organizations and practices in China and Japan. With growing familiarity with the finances, operations, organizations, and social role of businesses, it became increasingly possible to envision working outside the university context.

Soon after my promotion to Associate Professor I became Chair of the Common Curriculum, the unit containing UIC’s humanities and social sciences faculty; it comprised 31 full-time and 26 contingent faculty, offering an average of 112 courses per semester to over 2500 students. The duties of Chair required far more engagement with other units in the university, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the structures and mechanisms by which universities in general retain their scale, sustainability, and social relevance. With this broader perspective the idea of contributing to higher education at the organizational level beyond a single program, field, or institution became strongly compelling.

In the summer of 2019 I joined Perret Laver and have since supported a range of prominent and rising universities in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Southeast Asia in appointments of crucial roles, from Vice Chancellors and Presidents to senior faculty in key fields. This work has been a rewarding way to draw on my institutional leadership experience within academia, as well as understanding gained from research and teaching in the humanities and social sciences, to have a tangible positive impact.

"I salute and support the valuable contributions GradFUTURES is making for the lifetime success of fellow graduate students." 

What advice do you have for current graduate students regarding their professional development?

"Relevant work experience accumulated on your CV is the main thing employers consider. You can start small, but you must start soon. A role may ask you to have many skills, but among them you must have one skill at a demonstrably outstanding level."

Yes, I am open to being contacted by a Princeton Graduate Student for an informational interview!

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