Wei Liang

Dr. Liang is the Gordon Paul Smith Chair in International Studies at the Middlebury Institute, specializing in international trade and development, global governance, and Chinese foreign economic policy.

Her extensive research focuses on how economic policy is shaped both within nations and on the global stage. She has conducted fieldwork across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, engaging directly with policymakers to understand their work.

A respected member of the International Studies Association and the American Political Science Association, Dr. Liang previously held teaching and research positions at Florida International University, San Francisco State University, and UC Berkeley. She has also been a visiting professor at Meiji University in Japan, the National University of Singapore, and Peking University in China.

Jinhuei Enya Dai

Jinhuei Enya Dai is a practitioner and researcher passionate about innovative pedagogy and teacher education. She believes that “pedagogy is theory in practice” and has applied this philosophy by initiating numerous projects at the Institute. These include the Monterey Bay Foreign Language Education Symposium and immersive modules like the Nonproliferation Beijing and Taipei-Shanghai Cross-Strait programs.

The author of three books and multiple journal papers, Professor Dai approaches language education through a cognitive, intercultural, and individualized lens. She is dedicated to cultivating a greater awareness of oneself and others, believing that a true educator is a facilitator who maximizes opportunities for learning and understanding to happen.

Junko Matsuda

Junko Matsuda is a Japanese language instructor and curriculum developer who has dedicated her career to fostering a deep understanding of the Japanese language and culture. With extensive experience teaching all levels, from novice to advanced, she crafts student-centered classes using Content-Based Instruction (CBI) to help learners confidently use the language.

Drawing from her own experience of learning a new language, Junko designs her courses to help students not just master grammar, but also gain a greater appreciation for Japanese culture. Her teaching experience spans from the Defense Language Institute to California State University Monterey Bay and MIIS. She has also co-authored five Japanese textbooks, taught English as a Second Language, and pioneered early English-Japanese immersion programs in Japan. She continues to be a lifelong learner herself, regularly attending major language acquisition conferences like CATESOL and ACTFL.