Calvin J. Li Postdoctoral Fellowship in Asian American Studies
The Asian American Studies Program at the University of Maryland, College Park is proud to host the Calvin J. Li Fellowship in Asian American Studies. The Calvin J. Li Fellowship is intended to support a recent PhD with expertise in the issues facing second-generation children/adolescents of immigrants to the United States.
A focus of the fellowship program is research on how children of parents from Asian backgrounds navigate family, community, and life in the United States. Li Fellows focus on the challenges facing second-generation youth, identity formation, racial and ethnic representation, acculturation, transnationalism, family dynamics, or closely related topics. Li Fellows also teach courses related to their research for the Asian American Studies Program. In addition, Li Fellows present their research to the University community through public lectures and, in particular, distill research for a lay audience through a series of community-based lectures and workshops.
Calvin J. Li Postdoctoral Fellows
Wenxi Yang, phd | 2025 - present
PhD, School Psychology, University of Missouri (2025)
De. Wenxi Yang interdisciplinary research focuses on the mental health and well-being of Asian and Asian American (AAA) youth and families, particularly within educational and community contexts. Grounded in ecological systems theory and prevention science, her work bridges research and practice through culturally responsive and socially just approaches. She employs both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine how youth mental health is shaped by interactions across multiple systems—including families, educators, schools, and communities. Her additional research interests include the training and professional experiences of AAA school psychology practitioners and graduate students, with attention to the impacts of culture, racial identity, and structural barriers.
Clinically, Wenxi has delivered evidence-based mental health therapy, assessment and consultation in a range of settings—from schools and outpatient clinics to family-based care—working at the individual, group, and systems levels. Her experiences as a school-based mental health provider within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework have informed her understanding of the complex intersections between mental health, educational systems, and immigrant family life. She plans to pursue licensure as a psychologist.
Yeram Cheong, phd | 2020-2023
PhD, Developmental Psychology, University of California, Riverside (2020)
Dr. Yeram Cheong received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Cheong's research seeks to address the importance of understanding individuals' development in cultural and social context. Dr. Cheong’s research interests include the cultural context and family processes in children’s development and learning among historically underrepresented and immigrant families. She also explores the ways in which first-generation college students (i.e., students who are first in their family to complete college) draw support from family and peers in their academic adjustment and identity development. As a Calvin J. Li postdoctoral fellow, she hopes to extend her research program to understand socialization processes among Asian immigrant families and to engage in community-based research that has implications for improving home-school relationships and wellbeing of the Asian American children and families.
Jia Li Liu, phd | 2018-2020
PhD, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut (2018)
Dr. Jia Li Liu is the 2018-20 Calvin J. Li Postdoctoral Fellow in the Asian American Studies Program. She received her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut. Her research interests include cross-cultural parenting, the effects of child temperament on development, and the creation of culture-sensitive parent education programs for immigrant families. As a 2016 Fulbright scholar, Dr. Liu completed fieldwork in Hong Kong for her dissertation on Chinese maternal ethnotheories and socialization of children’s shyness.
K. Anh Do, phd | 2016-2018
PhD, Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska at Lincoln (2016)
Dr. K. Anh Do’s research focus is on working with people to promote healthy families and communities by recognizing and developing their strengths. She believes that every person deserves a healthy environment to live in and to thrive. Dr. Do brings an interdisciplinary perspective with her background in ethnic studies, psychology, and family studies. Her specific interests include Asian/ Asian American immigrant and refugee families. She explores how identity, family, and community relationships intersect to influence positive development and well-being. Dr. Do enjoys traveling to broaden her perspective on human resiliency worldwide and bringing these experiences back into the classroom.