Senior Program Officer
Cindy Gao joined the National Committee in October 2022 as a senior program officer, primarily focusing on the Public Intellectuals Program and supporting Committee-wide public programs.
Ms. Gao’s involvement as a board member and podcast co-host with NüVoices, a global editorial collective supporting the work of women and underrepresented voices in the China space, encouraged her to pivot mid-career into pursuing a graduate degree in Chinese studies at SOAS University of London. Her dissertation investigated Chinese media practices and alignment with competing models of journalism in Kenyan and Ugandan print media.
Prior to joining the Committee, Ms. Gao has worked in healthcare data science, computer science education, and other non-profit organizations. She has a BS in biomedical engineering from Columbia University. Her interests include documentary films, watching soccer, muay thai, slow tv, and gardening.