Her research interests include Chinese language teaching and learning, intercultural learning, sociocultural theory and ecology. Her publications have appeared in academic journals and books such as Language Learning & Technology, Chinese as a Second Language Research, and the Language Educator. She is director of the Chinese Studies Program at DePaul University. Through her teaching and events she organizes, she strives to demystify China as an exotic ancient civilization and a modern competitive society by engaging both the American public and Chinese citizens in open and thought-provoking conversations. She is particularly interested in promoting mutual understanding between China and the U.S. through meaningful and lasting educational and intercultural collaboration.