Dr. Weidong Zhang, Winona State University Professor of Global Studies and World Languages, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to advance his research project, “China and the Global South: Contemporary Dynamics and Global Implications.”
The Fulbright Program is devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 Fulbrighter recipients have participated in the program. They include 62 Nobel Laureates, 95 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and thousands of leaders across private, public and non-profit sectors.
Through case studies and fieldwork in India, Brazil, and South Africa, Dr. Zhang’s multi-country research will explore how China is engaging with key regions across the Global South. The project will also investigate how governments and societies in these regions perceive and respond to China’s influence.
Dr. Zhang’s research aims to address a critical gap in the understanding of China’s role in the Global South and to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these evolving relationships are shaping global power dynamics, regional development trajectories, and geopolitical alignments.
“I hope my research contributes to academic discourse, informs policy formulation, enhances public understanding, and enriches my teaching on Contemporary China at Winona State.” said Dr. Zhang.
“Our Winona State community extends its congratulations to Dr. Zhang!” said Brenda Kowalewski, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Dr. Zhang is an outstanding representative of Winona State University on the international stage and brings great prestige to our institution as a Fulbright Global Scholar for 2025-26.”
About Winona State University
Originally founded as a teacher’s college in 1858, today Winona State University is a comprehensive, regional public university with campuses in Winona and Rochester. The university offers more than 200 majors and programs at the undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate, and doctorate level, in five colleges: Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing & Health Sciences, and Science & Engineering.
Winona State is ranked among the Top 30 universities in the Midwest region (U.S. News and World Report, 2024-25) and has been named among the “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review for 21 consecutive years. The University generates $447.9 million in economic impact for the region per year. Winona State’s mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic vitality of the people and communities it serves: a community of learners improving our world. For more information, visit winona.edu.
