Public Intellectuals Program

Launched in 2005, the Public Intellectuals Program (PIP) identifies outstanding members of the next generation of American China specialists – in the academic, professional, or policymaking spheres – who, in the tradition of earlier China hands, have the interest and potential to venture outside of academia or their professions into areas relevant to foreign policy and public education. 

The two-year program is designed to enrich the twenty fellows’ understanding of policymaking processes in the United States and China; help them establish useful relationships both with their academic and professional colleagues and with policy practitioners; encourage them to move beyond the confines of their own disciplines; and nurture their ability to engage with the public at a national, regional, and local level. PIP is implemented through a series of activities including workshops in Washington, D.C., and other U.S. cities; international study tours to Greater China and elsewhere in Asia; opportunities to participate in National Committee delegations as scholar-escorts or in NCUSCR Track II dialogues; and public education initiatives. 

PIP is part-time commitment and an enrichment opportunity intended to complement the primary academic or professional positions held by the fellows. The program offers unique opportunities for professional development, mentoring by senior scholars, networking, and exposure. Fellows gain access to senior policymakers and experts in both the United States and China, and to individuals and fields they are not typically exposed to, such as the business, arts, health, and civil society sectors in China, as well as to the media in both countries. Fellows have access to media coaches to help edit and place op-eds and develop a social media presence. 

The ninth, eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth, and fourth cohorts of PIP were funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York; the first three cohorts were funded by The Henry Luce Foundation and The Starr Foundation.

PIP Fellow Database

You can visit our PIP Fellow Database to view biographical and contact information for all 180 fellows. You can search the database by name, location, research areas, institution, etc.