Leaders from Cornell University’s College of Arts & Sciences recently commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Brittany and Adam J. Levinson Program in China and Asia-Pacific Studies. Their visit to China included participation in the Cornell-China Forum held in Shanghai, alongside fellow Cornell delegates. During this trip, they also engaged with eight Levinson Program students currently studying abroad at Peking University, where they are fulfilling an intensive language requirement alongside courses focused on contemporary China.
Patrizia McBride, senior associate dean of Arts & Sciences and the Frank H.T. Rhodes Professor of Humane Letters in the Department of German Studies, expressed pride in the program’s resilience. “The Levinson Program is a core component of our international engagement with China and the Asia Pacific, and we’re proud it has weathered the uncertainties and challenges of COVID,” she stated. “Student interest has revived beyond our wildest expectations.”
The delegation’s itinerary featured a rich array of activities, including a roundtable discussion that brought together college leaders, Levinson Program students, and alumni. Notably, Adam Levinson, a key supporter of the program and a Cornell alumnus from the class of 1992, participated in these discussions.
The celebrations also included a keynote address by Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts & Sciences, who highlighted the program’s achievements during a speech at the 2025 Cornell-China Forum. A panel titled “Building Bridges: The Past and Future of China and Asia-Pacific Studies at Cornell” explored the program’s impact and future directions.
Additionally, the Levinson Program, in collaboration with the Yenching Academy at Peking University, organized a “Study China in China” conference. This event attracted nearly 20 other China-based academic programs focused on Chinese studies, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the Levinson Program.
The anniversary trip not only celebrated the past achievements of the Levinson Program but also reinforced its continued importance in fostering international academic relationships and enhancing understanding of China and the Asia-Pacific region. As the program looks ahead, it aims to build on its legacy and further enrich the educational experiences of its students.
