Academic & Professional Journey

Selected moments from my academic and professional journey—from earlier work in China and graduate training in East Asia and the United States to my current research and teaching.

Early Professional and Academic Experiences

Steven Wu at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in 2009 — Multilateral Diplomacy, Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, Hainan, China, 2009. Participating in the conference during my service with the Foreign Affairs Committee of China’s National People’s Congress.

Steven Wu receiving first prize in an essay competition organized by the National People’s Congress of China in Beijing in 2010 — Essay Contest Award, National People’s Congress, Beijing, 2010. Receiving first prize in an essay competition organized by the National People’s Congress of China.

Steven Wu with members of the Italian Chamber of Deputies in Rome in 2011 — Parliamentary Diplomacy, Chamber of Deputies, Rome, 2011. With Italian parliamentarians during a meeting of the Italy–China Parliamentary Cooperation Commission, as part of an official delegation from China’s National People’s Congress.

Steven Wu in Kyoto, Japan, during graduate study at Kyoto University in 2013 — Kyoto, Japan, 2013. During my JDS-supported graduate study at Kyoto University.

Steven Wu presenting at the Young Leaders Training and Research Program of the Northeast Asia Economic Forum in 2014 — Northeast Asia Economic Forum, Busan, South Korea, 2014. Presenting during the Young Leaders Training & Research Program, focused on Northeast Asian regional cooperation and development.

Steven Wu with participants at a political economy field research program and workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2015 — Field Research and Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand, 2015. Conducting field visits and presenting at a political economy workshop organized jointly by Kyoto University, Chulalongkorn University, and Thammasat University.

Graduate Training and Scholarly Community

Steven Wu participating in the U.S. Foreign Policy Colloquium of the National Committee on U.S.–China Relations in 2019 — U.S. Foreign Policy Colloquium, National Committee on U.S.–China Relations, 2019. Participating in the U.S. Foreign Policy Colloquium, a professional development program focused on U.S. foreign policy and U.S.–China relations.

Steven Wu with fellow editors and contributors at Johns Hopkins SAIS in 2019 — Publication Event, Johns Hopkins SAIS, 2019. With fellow editors and contributors to the SAIS China Studies Review, where I served as an editor.

Steven Wu with classmates and friends at the Johns Hopkins SAIS New Year celebration in 2019 — New Year Celebration, Johns Hopkins SAIS, 2019. With classmates and friends during graduate study at SAIS, celebrating after winning the New Year trivia competition.

Steven Wu at an Institute for Humane Studies trade paper workshop hosted at Harvard University in 2024 — Trade Paper Workshop, Harvard University, 2024. Presenting my research on international trade at a paper workshop organized by the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) and hosted at Harvard University.

Steven Wu presenting research at the 2024 APSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia — APSA Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, 2024. Presenting my paper on economic dependence and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, supported by the IHS Humane Studies Fellowship.

Steven Wu at the IPSCON DC Policy Workshop at the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs in 2025 — DC Policy Workshop, Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, Johns Hopkins SAIS, 2025. Participating in the International Policy Scholars Consortium and Network (IPSCON) program as a junior scholar, engaging with senior scholars and officials in policy simulations and debates.

Research and Academic Life Today

Steven Wu with his dissertation committee following his 2026 dissertation defense at Texas A&M University — Dissertation Defense, Texas A&M University, 2026. With my dissertation committee, in person and online, following the defense.

Steven Wu presenting China-Africa research at the 2026 APSA Annual Meeting in Boston — Panel Organization and Research Presentation, APSA Annual Meeting, Boston, 2026. Presenting my China–Africa research on a panel I organized, “Economic Statecraft and Strategic Alignment in Great Power Competition.”

Steven Wu at the University at Albany, SUNY, in 2026 — Teaching at the University at Albany, SUNY, 2026. Teaching political science as an adjunct lecturer while continuing my research on international political economy and Chinese foreign relations.

← Back to home