Brief Introduction

Board of Advisors

Program Committee

Our Staff

Partner Institutions

The Confucius Institute is a non-profit, public institute with the goal of promoting Chinese language and culture and supporting local Chinese teaching internationally through affiliated Confucius Institutes around the globe.

Confucius Institutes are established by the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, headquartered in Beijing.

The University of Memphis is home to the only Confucius Institute in the state of Tennessee and the first in the Mid-South.

In conjunction with its partner institution, Hubei University in China, the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis promotes understanding of the Chinese language and culture among the people of the United States, develops friendly relations between the U. S. and China, accelerates the expansion of multiculturalism, and provides opportunities for students studying the Chinese language.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis will occupy the entire 11th floor of Wilder Tower beginning in early 2009. A statue of Confucius, designed by a local artist, will greet visitors to the Institute.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis is closely affiliated with the University’s new Asian Studies and International Trade program, whose aim is to provide students with the critical combination of skills that an increasing number of companies seek: international business knowledge, foreign language proficiency, cultural sensitivity and experience abroad. The program was created by an anonymous $1 million donation to the University.

The University of Memphis has long participated in educational exchanges with a number of universities in China, including Hubei University, its partner in the Confucius Institute.

A pilot institute was established in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in June 2004. The first Confucius Institute opened on November 21, 2004 in Seoul, Korea.

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• Dr. Shirley C. Raines

President, University of Memphis – Board Chair

• Dr. Chuanxi Wu

President, Hubei University – Board Vice-Chair

• Dr. Ralph Faudree

Provost, University of Memphis

• Dr. Henry Kurtz

 Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Memphis

• Mr. Rudi Scheidt

Community Representative

• Professor  Xiangkun Li

Director of the International Office, Hubei University

• Dr. Hsiang-te Kung

Director, Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis – Ex officio

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Our Staff

• Dr. Hsiang-te Kung

Director of the CIUM and ASIT Programs

Full Tenured Professor In Geography

• Yiping Yang

Associate Director

Associate Professor in English and Cross Cultural Studies

Dean of the International School at Hubei University

• Riki H. Jackson

Assistant Director of the CIUM and ASIT Programs

Adjunct Professor in Chinese Abacus, Business, Economics, Marketing

• Zhang Lin

          Project Coordinator for the CIUM and ASIT Programs

• Zhang Yue

          Financial Officer of the CIUM

• Zhang Xifa, Chinese Language Instructor
• Chen Nailin, Chinese Language Instructor
• Qiao Guiqiang, Chinese Language Instructor
• Zhou Jinghui, Chinese Language Instructor
• Yang yanwei, Chinese Language Instructor
• Wang Ting, Chinese Language Instructor
• Wang Huihui, Chinese Language Instructor
• He Yanhua, Chinese Language Instructor
• Li Jiayun, Chinese Language Instructor
• Feng Juanjuan, Chinese Language Instructor
• Jing Li, Chinese Language Instructor
• He Aiping, Chinese Language Instructor
• Liu Ting, Chinese Language Instructor
• Zhang Wenbo, Chinese Language Instructor
• Xu Xiuqin, Chinese Language Instructor
• Chen Xiaoqian, Chinese Language Instructor
• Xiao Yayun, Chinese Language Instructor
• Wen Di, Chinese Language Instructor
• Wei Pengcheng, Chinese Language Instructor
• Wei Xuemei, Chinese Language Instructor
• Ni Mei, Chinese Language Instructor

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Partner Institutions

Colleges & Universities

Hubei University   

Pellissippi State Community College

University of Memphis

University of Tennessee Knoxville

K-12 Schools

Bristol Tennessee City Schools

Campus School Elementary

Dyersburg High School

Dyersburg Middle School

Dyersburg High School

East View Elementary School

Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal School

Greene County Schools

Greeneville City Schools

Greeneville High School

Greeneville Middle School

Hal Henard Elementary School

Highland Elementary School

Hillsboro High School

Hutchison School

Lausanne Collegiate School

Lipman Early Childhood Center

Oak Forest Elementary School

Oneida City Schools

St. George's Independent School of Memphis

St. George's Independent School of Germantown

St. George's Independent School of East Memphis

St. Luke's Day School

St. Mary's Episcopal School

Tennessee High School

Tusculum View Elementary School

Unicoi County Schools

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