Our Director

Dr. Weijun Zhao

Dr. Weijun Zhao’s association with Michigan State University began in 1980 when he served as the interpreter for the University’s first official delegation to China.  Dr. Zhao subsequently received his M.A. in Agriculture and Extension Education and Ph.D. in Resource Development from Michigan State University. As a Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Zhao was also awarded the Thoman Fellowship. 

His professional association with the University began in October 1992 when he began working at the Institute of International Agriculture as a coordinator for the US-China Rural Development Training Program. Under his leadership, more than 1,500 Chinese government officials, business executives, and technical personnel have since traveled from China to MSU to participate in short term training on subjects such as agricultural production technology, extension, and rural development. Additionally, Dr. Zhao coordinated the China Agriculture Study Tour Program for the University. He organized study tours to China for Michigan farmers, MSU faculty and county extension agents.

In recent years, Dr. Zhao has been building academic ties between the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and major Chinese educational and research institutions. With support from MSU Global, Dr. Zhao developed the first MSU joint education program with four Chinese universities. Most notably, the turfgrass management program has become MSU’s model for developing joint educational programs with other international partners.

Dr. Zhao’s role as director, entails carrying out President Simon’s China Initiatives, specifically, coordinating China programs across MSU campus. His responsibilities include:

developing more joint education programs;

developing more joint research programs;

facilitating technology transfer and consulting service;

assisting the Admissions Office  in recruiting more undergraduate students from China. 

He also supervises the work of the MSU China Office in Beijing.