China Programs is an independent educational organization that focuses on developing China-related educational initiatives for high school students around the world.

Key members of our team include:

David was a co–founder of Foundation Programs Incorporated, where he was responsible for the overall design, development, implementation, and supervision of the Glimpses of China programs throughout its operational years from 2002–2009.

In 2009, David established China Programs Incorporated to continue to offer China–focused educational programs to high school students around the world, including an improved version of Glimpses of China.

Before establishing the Glimpses of China program, David served as Head of Marketing and Head of Customer Fulfilment for the Emerging Local Corporate business at Citibank, N.A., in Hong Kong.  Prior to that, he worked for The Walt Disney Company and Booz Allen & Hamilton, a global strategic and technology consulting firm, where he helped consumer products and financial services companies to expand and restructure their businesses in Asia.

David has worked in and traveled to over 25 countries in the world, and received his Masters of Arts (Hons) degree in Law at the University of Cambridge.

Mei Li is a Mandarin instructor at The Madeira School, an all–girls’ independent boarding school in McLean, Virginia (USA), where she has guided students through cultural research and analyses, designed and managed service learning trips and international school partnerships.

She is also the co–founder and co–director of a creative arts youth camp, set up to inspire rural children and teens to art, music, movement, and writing.  Mei Li has also served as the education and training coordinator for a Chinese environmental non–profit in Washington, D.C., and has organized a coast–to–coast environmental tour and home–stay in the U.S. for Chinese youth.

With degrees in English and Chinese, and an MFA in creative writing, Mei Li finished her first book, Walk Without Notice, while studying journalism at Nanjing University and writing for the Yangzi Evening Post and Dongfang Magazine.

Mei Li has lived and studied in China, Taiwan, Japan, and England, and traveled extensively.  She was Program Director of the Glimpses of China II program in 2009.

Dr. Hurley, Adjunct Professor of Religion at Luther College, has taught Chinese history, religion, and philosophy at both the college and high school levels, and has traveled extensively in China, spending much of his time at important Buddhist centers along the Silk Road.  Currently, he teaches “Global Citizenship,” “Religion, Ethics, and Animal Welfare,” and “Buddhism, Animals, and Animal Welfare” at Luther College.  Other college courses he has taught in the past include “Religions of East Asia,” “Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto,” “Chinese Civilization,” and “Chinese Humanities.”  Finally, in addition to Asian history, he taught high school Mandarin for four years at Shattuck–St. Mary’s School.

Dr. Hurley’s research and teaching interests include ethics, Buddhist contributions to the animal rights debate, and new religious movements in East Asia.  More specifically, he is interested in the development of contemporary animal welfare groups in China and Taiwan, particularly those with Buddhist inclinations, and traditional Chinese animal husbandry techniques.  In 2005, 2007, and 2009 he served as Academic Director and Program Director for the Glimpses of China program.

Joaquin worked in the Glimpses of China Admissions Office in Hong Kong between 2008 and May 2009, and was responsible for introducing the program to a wider range of schools in the US, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as alumni initiatives.  In the summer of 2009, he served as Assistant Director in the Glimpses of China Program Office in Shanghai and supervised the Mandarin Extension Program.

Joaquin studied microbiology and Spanish as an undergraduate in UCLA, and has developed a strong interest in education as well as public policy issues.  In 2006 he served as a Public and International Policy Fellow in UC Berkeley, working with community organizations on education and healthcare issues relating to underprivileged groups.

He has studied and lived in the US, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Mexico, and taught Spanish and swimming.  He enjoys traveling, and is always interested in learning more about China and further exploring his Chinese roots.