Dr. Honggang Yang served in 1999–2020 as dean for the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Nova Southeastern University. Earlier in the 1990s, he was on the McGregor School of Antioch University faculty, chairing the individualized graduate program in conflict resolution. He also had the honor of serving as Research Associate and Internship Coordinator for the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Presidential Center of Emory University. He served on the Editorial Boards of American Review of China Studies, Conflict Resolution Quarterly, and Lexington Book Series for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Asia. Dr. Yang is a senior advisory editor of Peace and Conflict Studies, past president and co-founder of the Council of Chinese American Deans & Presidents, and co-founder of NSU’s Council for Inclusion and Diversity. He received the 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Anthropology at USF, the 1998 SOCHE Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education, the 2002 NSU Academic Dean of the Year in Student Life Achievement, and the 2021 Innovative Leadership in Higher Education Award from the Florida Distance Learning Association. He co-edited with Dr. A. Wolfe Anthropological Contributions to Conflict Resolution. He was bestowed Dean and Professor Emeritus in 2021.Dr. Wenying Xu is a Professor of English at Jacksonville University in Florida. She received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Pittsburgh specializing in 19th-century American literature. She has taught American Literature, Multiethnic Literature of the United States, World Literature, and Literary Theory at Truman State University, Sichuan University in China, Florida Atlantic University, Xiamen University in China, Chatham University, and JacksonvilleUniversity. She is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, fiction, poetry, and scholarly books including Ethics and Aesthetics of Freedom in American and Chinese Realism (2003), Eating Identities: Reading Food in Asian American Literature (2008), and Historical Dictionary of Asian American Literature and Theater (2012 & 2022), whose 2nd edition was chosen by the Library Journal as the Best Reference Book of 2022. She has served in such leadership roles as Department Chair, Ph.D. Program Director, Associate Dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and President of the Society for the Study of Multiethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS). Additionally, she is the recipient of many honors, including a senior Fulbright Lectureship to China, the MELUS Award for Lifetime Achievement, Arthur Vining Davis Fellow for Aspen Ideas Festival, Readers' Choice Award for fiction from Prairie Schooner, and Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship.

“The book’s narrative-driven approach, which significantly improves its readability, makes it an engaging and enjoyable read, filled with moments of inspiration and insight. ... this volume stands as a celebration of past achievements and also a call to action for building more inclusive and equitable pathways to leadership. For scholars, practitioners, and students of higher education, it is an inspiring and timely resource that underscores the enduring power of education, resilience, and leadership rooted in cultural understanding, purpose, and justice.” (Tianlong You, Journal of Chinese Overseas, Vol 21 (1), 2025) “Combining intellectual depth, multidisciplinary breadth, and accessible storytelling, this book will be an informative and unforgettable read for a broad audience interested in higher education, US-China relations, and Asian American history. … This book provides both the roadmaps that show the path forward and the stories that warm our heart and strengthen our will to embark on that path.” (Lisong Liu, American Review of China Studies, Vol. 25 (1), Spring, 2024)

• Chapter 1. Building Community Partnerships and Strengthening Business Education.- Chapter 2. Leading Universities from a Social Justice Perspective.- Chapter 3. Diversity and Chinese American Leadership: A Contextual and Experiential Approach to Theories with Reality Checks.- Chapter 4. Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leadership.- Chapter 5. Building Leadership Capacity and Organizational Efficiency.- Chapter 6. Navigating Tradition and Transformation: Lessons Learned in Higher Education.- Chapter 7. Leading and Managing: My Experience Serving in Academic Leadership.- Chapter 8. The Presidential Quest from a First Generation Chinese American Academic.- Chapter 9. The Man Who Races Against Time.- Chapter 10. From Leading Others to Leading Yourself.- Chapter 11. Shared Governance in American Higher Education and Water-Like Servant Leadership in Daoist Psychology.- Chapter 12. A Humble Beginning to Higher Ed Leadership.- Chapter 13. Courage at the Intersection of Preparation and Opportunity.- Chapter 14. Data-Informed Decision-Making in Higher Education.- Chapter 15. Leading Research and Enhancing Scholarship: Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Faculty Diversity.- Chapter 16. To Lead, to Serve, and to Transform: From Law School Dean to University President.- Chapter 17. When You Were a Student at Harvard, Did You Dream of Becoming a Dean?.- Chapter 18. The Asian Way: Chia-Wei Woo and the Education of a University President.- Chapter 19. From Community Colleges to Four-Year Universities: My Experience Creating a Community Impact.- Chapter 20. Leading with Courage, Vision, Perseverance, Execution, and Impact.- Chapter 21. An Introvert Leading Higher Education in Academic Nursing and Healthcare.- Chapter 22. Starting from “Two Suitcases” — My Journey Leading Academic and Research Libraries in America.- Chapter 23. My Accidental Path to Leadership and What I Have Learned along the Way.- Chapter 24. High Expectations, Short Fuse: The “Intangibles” Facing an Asian American President.- Chapter 25. Everything My Asian Immigrant Parents Taught Me Turns Out to Be Wrong.- Chapter 26. Leading Climate Change Actions in Higher Education.- Chapter 27. Innovation and Community Dialogues.- Chapter 28. Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance.- Chapter 29. Internationalization Innovation: One SIO’s Journey as an Academic Entrepreneur.- Chapter 30. Advocating Users’ Needs through a Leadership Role in Research Libraries.- Chapter 31. Promotion of Bilateral Collaboration in Health Sciences between the US and China Against Various Global Health Challenges.- Chapter 32. Leadership – A Pathway from Surviving to Thriving.- Chapter 33. Journey to the “Dark Side”.- Chapter 34. Bobby Fong Remembered for His Many Contributions to Butler.- Chapter 35. C. L. Liu – A Leading Authority and Role Model in Sino-American Academia.- Chapter 36. Memories of Chang-Lin Tien.

Dr. Honggang Yang served in 1999–2020 as dean for the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Nova Southeastern University. Earlier in the 1990s, he was on the McGregor School of Antioch University faculty, chairing the individualized graduate program in conflict resolution. He also had the honor of serving as Research Associate and Internship Coordinator for the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Presidential Center of Emory University. He served on the Editorial Boards of American Review of China Studies, Conflict Resolution Quarterly, and Lexington Book Series for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Asia. Dr. Yang is a senior advisory editor of Peace and Conflict Studies, past president and co-founder of the Council of Chinese American Deans & Presidents, and co-founder of NSU’s Council for Inclusion and Diversity. He received the 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Anthropology at USF, the 1998 SOCHE Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education, the 2002 NSU Academic Dean of the Year in Student Life Achievement, and the 2021 Innovative Leadership in Higher Education Award from the Florida Distance Learning Association. He co-edited with Dr. A. Wolfe Anthropological Contributions to Conflict Resolution. He was bestowed Dean and Professor Emeritus in 2021.Dr. Wenying Xu is a Professor of English at Jacksonville University in Florida. She received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Pittsburgh specializing in 19th-century American literature. She has taught American Literature, Multiethnic Literature of the United States, World Literature, and Literary Theory at Truman State University, Sichuan University in China, Florida Atlantic University, Xiamen University in China, Chatham University, and JacksonvilleUniversity. She is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, fiction, poetry, and scholarly books including Ethics and Aesthetics of Freedom in American and Chinese Realism (2003), Eating Identities: Reading Food in Asian American Literature (2008), and Historical Dictionary of Asian American Literature and Theater (2012 & 2022), whose 2nd edition was chosen by the Library Journal as the Best Reference Book of 2022. She has served in such leadership roles as Department Chair, Ph.D. Program Director, Associate Dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and President of the Society for the Study of Multiethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS). Additionally, she is the recipient of many honors, including a senior Fulbright Lectureship to China, the MELUS Award for Lifetime Achievement, Arthur Vining Davis Fellow for Aspen Ideas Festival, Readers' Choice Award for fiction from Prairie Schooner, and Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship.

“The book’s narrative-driven approach, which significantly improves its readability, makes it an engaging and enjoyable read, filled with moments of inspiration and insight. ... this volume stands as a celebration of past achievements and also a call to action for building more inclusive and equitable pathways to leadership. For scholars, practitioners, and students of higher education, it is an inspiring and timely resource that underscores the enduring power of education, resilience, and leadership rooted in cultural understanding, purpose, and justice.” (Tianlong You, Journal of Chinese Overseas, Vol 21 (1), 2025) “Combining intellectual depth, multidisciplinary breadth, and accessible storytelling, this book will be an informative and unforgettable read for a broad audience interested in higher education, US-China relations, and Asian American history. … This book provides both the roadmaps that show the path forward and the stories that warm our heart and strengthen our will to embark on that path.” (Lisong Liu, American Review of China Studies, Vol. 25 (1), Spring, 2024)

• Chapter 1. Building Community Partnerships and Strengthening Business Education.- Chapter 2. Leading Universities from a Social Justice Perspective.- Chapter 3. Diversity and Chinese American Leadership: A Contextual and Experiential Approach to Theories with Reality Checks.- Chapter 4. Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leadership.- Chapter 5. Building Leadership Capacity and Organizational Efficiency.- Chapter 6. Navigating Tradition and Transformation: Lessons Learned in Higher Education.- Chapter 7. Leading and Managing: My Experience Serving in Academic Leadership.- Chapter 8. The Presidential Quest from a First Generation Chinese American Academic.- Chapter 9. The Man Who Races Against Time.- Chapter 10. From Leading Others to Leading Yourself.- Chapter 11. Shared Governance in American Higher Education and Water-Like Servant Leadership in Daoist Psychology.- Chapter 12. A Humble Beginning to Higher Ed Leadership.- Chapter 13. Courage at the Intersection of Preparation and Opportunity.- Chapter 14. Data-Informed Decision-Making in Higher Education.- Chapter 15. Leading Research and Enhancing Scholarship: Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Faculty Diversity.- Chapter 16. To Lead, to Serve, and to Transform: From Law School Dean to University President.- Chapter 17. When You Were a Student at Harvard, Did You Dream of Becoming a Dean?.- Chapter 18. The Asian Way: Chia-Wei Woo and the Education of a University President.- Chapter 19. From Community Colleges to Four-Year Universities: My Experience Creating a Community Impact.- Chapter 20. Leading with Courage, Vision, Perseverance, Execution, and Impact.- Chapter 21. An Introvert Leading Higher Education in Academic Nursing and Healthcare.- Chapter 22. Starting from “Two Suitcases” — My Journey Leading Academic and Research Libraries in America.- Chapter 23. My Accidental Path to Leadership and What I Have Learned along the Way.- Chapter 24. High Expectations, Short Fuse: The “Intangibles” Facing an Asian American President.- Chapter 25. Everything My Asian Immigrant Parents Taught Me Turns Out to Be Wrong.- Chapter 26. Leading Climate Change Actions in Higher Education.- Chapter 27. Innovation and Community Dialogues.- Chapter 28. Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance.- Chapter 29. Internationalization Innovation: One SIO’s Journey as an Academic Entrepreneur.- Chapter 30. Advocating Users’ Needs through a Leadership Role in Research Libraries.- Chapter 31. Promotion of Bilateral Collaboration in Health Sciences between the US and China Against Various Global Health Challenges.- Chapter 32. Leadership – A Pathway from Surviving to Thriving.- Chapter 33. Journey to the “Dark Side”.- Chapter 34. Bobby Fong Remembered for His Many Contributions to Butler.- Chapter 35. C. L. Liu – A Leading Authority and Role Model in Sino-American Academia.- Chapter 36. Memories of Chang-Lin Tien.

Dr. Honggang Yang served in 1999–2020 as dean for the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Nova Southeastern University. Earlier in the 1990s, he was on the McGregor School of Antioch University faculty, chairing the individualized graduate program in conflict resolution. He also had the honor of serving as Research Associate and Internship Coordinator for the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Presidential Center of Emory University. He served on the Editorial Boards of American Review of China Studies, Conflict Resolution Quarterly, and Lexington Book Series for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Asia. Dr. Yang is a senior advisory editor of Peace and Conflict Studies, past president and co-founder of the Council of Chinese American Deans & Presidents, and co-founder of NSU’s Council for Inclusion and Diversity. He received the 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Anthropology at USF, the 1998 SOCHE Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education, the 2002 NSU Academic Dean of the Year in Student Life Achievement, and the 2021 Innovative Leadership in Higher Education Award from the Florida Distance Learning Association. He co-edited with Dr. A. Wolfe Anthropological Contributions to Conflict Resolution. He was bestowed Dean and Professor Emeritus in 2021.Dr. Wenying Xu is a Professor of English at Jacksonville University in Florida. She received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Pittsburgh specializing in 19th-century American literature. She has taught American Literature, Multiethnic Literature of the United States, World Literature, and Literary Theory at Truman State University, Sichuan University in China, Florida Atlantic University, Xiamen University in China, Chatham University, and JacksonvilleUniversity. She is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, fiction, poetry, and scholarly books including Ethics and Aesthetics of Freedom in American and Chinese Realism (2003), Eating Identities: Reading Food in Asian American Literature (2008), and Historical Dictionary of Asian American Literature and Theater (2012 & 2022), whose 2nd edition was chosen by the Library Journal as the Best Reference Book of 2022. She has served in such leadership roles as Department Chair, Ph.D. Program Director, Associate Dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and President of the Society for the Study of Multiethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS). Additionally, she is the recipient of many honors, including a senior Fulbright Lectureship to China, the MELUS Award for Lifetime Achievement, Arthur Vining Davis Fellow for Aspen Ideas Festival, Readers' Choice Award for fiction from Prairie Schooner, and Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship.

“The book’s narrative-driven approach, which significantly improves its readability, makes it an engaging and enjoyable read, filled with moments of inspiration and insight. ... this volume stands as a celebration of past achievements and also a call to action for building more inclusive and equitable pathways to leadership. For scholars, practitioners, and students of higher education, it is an inspiring and timely resource that underscores the enduring power of education, resilience, and leadership rooted in cultural understanding, purpose, and justice.” (Tianlong You, Journal of Chinese Overseas, Vol 21 (1), 2025) “Combining intellectual depth, multidisciplinary breadth, and accessible storytelling, this book will be an informative and unforgettable read for a broad audience interested in higher education, US-China relations, and Asian American history. … This book provides both the roadmaps that show the path forward and the stories that warm our heart and strengthen our will to embark on that path.” (Lisong Liu, American Review of China Studies, Vol. 25 (1), Spring, 2024)

• Chapter 1. Building Community Partnerships and Strengthening Business Education.- Chapter 2. Leading Universities from a Social Justice Perspective.- Chapter 3. Diversity and Chinese American Leadership: A Contextual and Experiential Approach to Theories with Reality Checks.- Chapter 4. Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leadership.- Chapter 5. Building Leadership Capacity and Organizational Efficiency.- Chapter 6. Navigating Tradition and Transformation: Lessons Learned in Higher Education.- Chapter 7. Leading and Managing: My Experience Serving in Academic Leadership.- Chapter 8. The Presidential Quest from a First Generation Chinese American Academic.- Chapter 9. The Man Who Races Against Time.- Chapter 10. From Leading Others to Leading Yourself.- Chapter 11. Shared Governance in American Higher Education and Water-Like Servant Leadership in Daoist Psychology.- Chapter 12. A Humble Beginning to Higher Ed Leadership.- Chapter 13. Courage at the Intersection of Preparation and Opportunity.- Chapter 14. Data-Informed Decision-Making in Higher Education.- Chapter 15. Leading Research and Enhancing Scholarship: Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Faculty Diversity.- Chapter 16. To Lead, to Serve, and to Transform: From Law School Dean to University President.- Chapter 17. When You Were a Student at Harvard, Did You Dream of Becoming a Dean?.- Chapter 18. The Asian Way: Chia-Wei Woo and the Education of a University President.- Chapter 19. From Community Colleges to Four-Year Universities: My Experience Creating a Community Impact.- Chapter 20. Leading with Courage, Vision, Perseverance, Execution, and Impact.- Chapter 21. An Introvert Leading Higher Education in Academic Nursing and Healthcare.- Chapter 22. Starting from “Two Suitcases” — My Journey Leading Academic and Research Libraries in America.- Chapter 23. My Accidental Path to Leadership and What I Have Learned along the Way.- Chapter 24. High Expectations, Short Fuse: The “Intangibles” Facing an Asian American President.- Chapter 25. Everything My Asian Immigrant Parents Taught Me Turns Out to Be Wrong.- Chapter 26. Leading Climate Change Actions in Higher Education.- Chapter 27. Innovation and Community Dialogues.- Chapter 28. Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance.- Chapter 29. Internationalization Innovation: One SIO’s Journey as an Academic Entrepreneur.- Chapter 30. Advocating Users’ Needs through a Leadership Role in Research Libraries.- Chapter 31. Promotion of Bilateral Collaboration in Health Sciences between the US and China Against Various Global Health Challenges.- Chapter 32. Leadership – A Pathway from Surviving to Thriving.- Chapter 33. Journey to the “Dark Side”.- Chapter 34. Bobby Fong Remembered for His Many Contributions to Butler.- Chapter 35. C. L. Liu – A Leading Authority and Role Model in Sino-American Academia.- Chapter 36. Memories of Chang-Lin Tien.