Successes

Success Stories The Asian Scholar Fund has supported educational opportunities for over 2,000 students. The following is a small sample of those who have gone on to achieve their educational goals in support of cross-cultural understanding.
Cui Lan, Harvard University When I was in my final year at Beijing University in Beijing, PRC, I wanted to apply to a Ph.D. program at Harvard University. Dr. Mary Phillips advised me on writing my statement of purpose and how to give an oral presentation of my research proposal in the Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies. I wrote and spoke with clarity and focus to articulate my past achievements and my proposed research design. Because of this training, I was accepted into the program. This opportunity will prepare me to fulfill my dream of teaching at the university level in China.
Tenzin Jinba, Boston University I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a number of American Ph.D. programs, but none of the universities offered funding. Dr. Mary Phillips met with me in Beijing to evaluate my abilities and to discuss my research interests to help me decide which program was best for academic goals. Then Dr. Phillips made contacts on my behalf and I was awarded the prestigious President’s Scholarship Award from Boston University, where I am now working on my Ph.D. in anthropology.
Xiao Huan, University of Virginia In the final year of my M.A. Degree program in economics at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, I contacted Dr. Mary Phillips for academic advice and counseling. I had been accepted to a number of American Ph.D. programs in economics, but I had concerns and wanted to make the best choice based on my research goals and geographic location. The University of Virginia program was an excellent choice and I continue to excel.
Visiting Scholar, Harvard-Yenching Institute As a Ph.D. student at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, Dr. Mary Phillips taught my advanced research writing course. From her course, I learned how to narrow my research topic, to define my methods and theories and how to find international scholars to work with for my dissertation research on Confucianism. This foundation aided me in being awarded a Visiting Scholar affiliation at the Harvard University Yenching Institute.
Hojo After studying with Dr. Mary Phillips as a M.A. student at the Beijing Advertising College, I joined her creative writing program that was free and open to any student who dreamed of becoming a writer. These Friday nights gave me the opportunity to develop my creative skills and to learn from and meet other novice writers. It was here that I became fluent in spoken English. Dr. Phillips also gave me the opportunity to work as an intern with the Pride Institute to gain experience in working with a non-profit organization.
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