Asian Caucus Leadership
Current Elected Leadership
Chairperson (2025-2027)
Qing Zhou, Ph.D.
UC Berkeley, Berkeley
Dr. Qing Zhou is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of Culture and Family Study Lab at University of California Berkeley. Her research focuses on cultural, family, and temperament influences on children's executive function, socio-emotional, and academic development from preschool to young adulthood. Her team has conducted longitudinal studies of parenting and socioemotional development of Chinese children in Asia and Chinese American and Mexican American children in the U.S. She was a recipient of the Foundation for Child Development Young Scholars Award, and her research has been funded by the National Institute of Health (USA). Dr. Zhou has published empirical and theoretical articles in developmental, cultural, clinical, and educational science journals and volumes. Dr. Zhou currently serves as an Associate Editor of Developmental Psychology and a Consulting Editor of Child Development, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, and British Journal of Developmental Psychology. In addition to serving as the Chairperson of SRCD Asian Caucus, Dr. Zhou also serves as the Co-Chair of Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Publication Committee.
Secretary (2025-2027)
Dr. Effy Yu, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Dr. Effy Zhiyuan Yu is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Department of Family and Community Health. Effy is a nurse by training and received my BSN and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!). She then completed the Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Research at Johns Hopkins University. Effy believes that Parenting is preventative medicine. She is committed to helping children live to their full potential by supporting parents. Specifically, her work focuses on (1) understanding the intergenerational transmission of adversity and related biobehavioral health impacts and (2) preventing them through supporting parents on their mental well-being and parenting using evidence-based, empathic interventions, particularly among families of young children exposed to high levels of adversity. Supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, her current work focuses on elucidating how mothers’ childhood experiences are associated with maternal sensitivity and infants and toddlers’ immune regulation as indicated by both cellular and transcriptomic immune biomarkers. She is also testing the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an evidence-based parenting program on maternal sensitivity among Chinese mothers with postpartum distress in the U.S.
Treasurer (2025-2027)
Chenyi Zhang, Ph.D.
Georgia State University, Atlanta
Dr. Chenyi Zhang is an Associate Professor at Georgia State University in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Dr. Zhang’s research examines the interplay between teachers’ classroom instruction and young children’s early literacy development with consideration of environmental factors in classroom. His research aims to understand how high-quality teacher-child interactions (i.e., emotionally and instructionally sensitive interactions) at school influence young children’s literacy, language, and socio-emotional development. Dr. Zhang has also been conducting early literacy research specifically revealing the early developmental pattern among Asian children, and the nature of teacher-child interactions in Asian early childhood classrooms. Recently, Dr. Zhang is exploring the feasibilities of utilizing AI technology for promoting culturally relevant literacy instruction. completed his PhD in Human Development and Family Studies (emphasis: Early Childhood Education) at Purdue University in 2013.
Student/Early Career Representative (2025-2027)
Yu Chen, Ph.D.
New York University, New York
Dr. Yu (Tina) Chen is a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She received her PhD in Human Development from the University of Maryland-College Park. Her research focuses on children’s early home learning environments, with particular emphasis on how positive, responsive parent-child interactions foster language and cognitive development, and how risk and resilience factors across multiple levels shape these environments. Her work seeks to inform the development, adaptation, and implementation of preventive interventions that effectively support young children and families from socioeconomically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Her current project, funded by the Academic Pediatric Association Collaborative Research Award, aims to adapt Reach Out and Read, a pediatric-based literacy program, to better serve bilingual and language-minority families. She utilizes advanced quantitative methods as well as qualitative methods in her research. She also has extensive experience analyzing mother-child and father-child interactions, assessing early developmental outcomes, and evaluating longitudinal randomized controlled trials of early parenting interventions. Dr. Chen is excited to foster a warm and engaging community for our students and early career scholars.
Student/Early Career Representative (2025-2027)
Jiayi Liu
Michigan State University, East Lansing
I am Jiayi Liu, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University, with a concentration in Diversity, Youth, and Family Development. My research examines the sociocultural influences on parenting and socialization processes, and how these processes impact youth mental health. Through this work, I aim to contribute to the development of indigenous theories of parenting and youth development and to support the adaptation of culturally responsive family intervention programs for non-Western populations.
Throughout my role as the SRCD Asian Caucus Student Representative, I am committed to building a welcoming community where every member feels valued, share timely resources to support career development, and help elevate the visibility and contributions of the Asian community in academia. I have two adorable kittens and enjoy spending time with both people and nature.
Chair-Elect (2025-2027)
Meeta Banerjee, Ph.D., MSW
University of South Carolina, Columbia
Meeta Banerjee received her Ph.D. in Ecological-Community Psychology with a specialization in Applied Developmental Science from Michigan State University in 2012. Her research employs both integrative and ecological frameworks to understand the influence of contextual factors on the developmental trajectories in underrepresented minority youth and families. Furthermore Dr. Banerjee’s research examines the interaction between ecological contexts (e.g., schools, families, neighborhoods, communities and racial discrimination) and parenting practices and how these processes directly and indirectly influence psychosocial and educational outcomes. She is particularly interested how race-related processes in the family (e.g., parental ethnic-racial socialization, parents’ racial identities) influence adjustment in ethnic minority youth.Three overarching goals guide my work: 1) To describe the influence of contextual factors on parenting goals and practices in ethnic minority families; 2) To elucidate how ethnic-racial socialization may be adaptive for individuals in both race-related and non-race related contexts on youth outcomes; and 3) To explicate how the association between ethnic-racial socialization and context varies as a function of developmental period, from early to late adolescence.
Past Leadership
Chairperson
- (2023-2025) Qi Wang, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca
- (2021-2023): Yoonsun Choi, Ph.D., University of Chicago, Chicago
- (2019-2021): Richard M. Lee, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
- (2017-2019): Charissa S. L. Cheah, Ph.D., University of Maryland
- (2015-2017): Hiro Yoshikawa, Ph.D., New York University
- (2013-2015): Vivian Tseng, Ph.D., William T. Grant Foundation
- (2011-2013): Ramaswami Mahalingam, Ph.D., University of Michigan
- (2008-2010): Ruth Chao, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
Chairperson-Elect
(2021-2023) Qing Zhou, Ph.D. UC Berkeley, Berkeley
(2019-2021): Yoonsun Choi, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, Chicago
(2017-2019): Richard M Lee, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
(2015-2017): Charissa S. L. Cheah, Ph.D., University of Maryland
(2013-2015): Hiro Yoshikawa, Ph.D., New York University
(2011-2013): Vivian Tseng, Ph.D., William T. Grant Foundation
(2010): Ramaswami Mahalingam, Ph.D., University of Michigan
(2008-2009): Suniya Luthar, Ph.D., Columbia University
Treasurer
(2019-2025): Yan Li, Ph.D., DePaul University
(2015-2019): Virginia Huynh, Ph.D., California State University, Northridge
(2010-2015): Rashmita Mistry, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
(2008-2010): Qi Wang, Ph.D., Cornell University
Secretary
(2021-2025): Stephen Chen, Ph.D., Wellesley College
(2013-2017): Lisa Kiang, Ph.D., Wake Forest University
(2008-2013): Tiffany Yip, Ph.D., Fordham University
Student Representative
(2021-2025): Miao Qian, Ph.D., University of Detroit Mercy
(2021-2025): Ekjyot Saini, Ph.D., Penn State University
(2013-2017): Yijie Wang, Ph.D., Michigan State University
(2010-2013): Daniel Choe, Ph.D., University of Michigan
(2008-2010): Mae Ho, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
Subcommittees
The Outreach and Communications Subcommittee (OCS)
Committee charge: To develop and disseminate AC-relevant training and communications; Coordinate with tri-caucus to webinar offerings, manage spotlights, and assist social media outlets and post to the listserv (currently managed by Ekjyot and Miao).
Dr. Angela Chow, chowa@indiana.edu, Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Health Science at Indiana University, Bloomington
Other members:
Dr. Jacqueline Nguyen, Assistant professor in the Learning & Development program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dr. Yang Qu, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University
Yannan Gao, Ph.D. Student at University of California, Irvine
Shuhan Yuan, Ph.D. student at Indiana University Bloomington
The Award Subcommittee
Committee charge: Distribute a call for nominations for AC awards (Lifetime achievement award, early career award, outstanding contribution to research award, outstanding service award, outstanding graduate student research award) during early fall before the biennial, review applications, select and notify awardees by late fall
Dr. Yang Hou, yang.hou@uky.edu, Chair, Assistant professor in the Department of Family Sciences at the University of Kentucky
Other members:
Dr. Stephen Chen, Associate Professor of Psychology at Wellesley College, Massachusettes
Dr. Xin Feng, Professor in the Department of Human Sciences at the Ohio State University
Dr. Miwa Yasui, Associate Professor of Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago
Finance and Fundraising Subcommittee
Committee charge: To manage and expand fundraising efforts and oversee the distribution of funds; Develop and execute fundraising initiatives
Dr. Yan Li, Chair, yli34@depaul.edu, Associate Professor of Psychology at DePaul University, Chicago
Other members:
Dr. Chenyi Zhang, Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgia State University, Georgia
Dr. Yunyi Long, Researcher, and instructor in Psychological Science at DePaul University, Chicago
Membership Subcommittee
Committee charge:
To promote the growth of AC membership; Develop promotional materials, and periodic membership surveys to assess how well AC is meeting member needs
Dr. Miao Qian, Co-Chair, qianmi@udmercy.edu, Assistant Professor of Psychology at University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan
Dr. Ekjyot Saini, Co-Chair, Doctoral Student at Auburn University, Auburn
Other members:
Dr. Tzu-Fen Chang, Assistant Professor at California State University, Bakersfield
Cindy Huang, Doctoral student at Teachers College at Columbia University
Mentorship Subcommittee
Committee charge: To provide mentorship opportunities and experiences; develop mentorship programs and initiatives for graduate students and early career members of AC.
Dr. Jeffrey Liew, Chair, jeffrey.liew@tamu.edu, Professor of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University
Other members:
Dr. Qiong (Joanna) Wu, Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Florida State University
Dr. Annabelle Atkin, Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University
Dr. Aubrey Wang, Professor of Educational Leadership, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia
Dr. Daniel Ewon Choe, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at UC Davis
Dr. Linda Juang, Professor of Psychology at University of Potsdam, Germany
Nominations Subcommittee
Committee charge: To identify scholars to be nominated for awards and leadership positions. Coordinate with tri-caucus, ERI, and other SRCD committees to respond to requests to provide names of scholars from AC for various initiatives to ensure representation of Asian/ Asian American scholars; Develop a systematic process (e.g., a creation of a database) that allows a fair and equitable representation of scholars from AC
Dr. Jackie Eunjung Relyea, Chair, jrelyea@ncsu.edu, Assistant Professor of Literacy Education at NC State University, North Carolina
Other members:
Dr. Yijie Wang, Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University
Dr. Sunah Hyun, Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dr. Jie Zhang, Associate Professor at the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Houston
Dr. Xinyin Chen, Professor at the Human Development and Quantitative Methods Division at the University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Virginia Huynh, Professor of Psychology at California State University, Northridge
Publications and Scientific Programming Subcommittee
Committee charge: Coordinate with tri-caucus and other SRCD committees in organizing special issues, consider AC special issues in peer-reviewed journals; Coordinate activities (i.e., submission of symposia) with tri-caucus, ERI, E&J regarding programming at SRCD biennial, SRA, and other special topics conferences
Dr. Qing Zhou, Chair, qingzhou@berkeley.edu, Professor of Psychology at University of California, Berkeley
Other members:
Dr. Florrie Ng, Associate Professor at the Department of Educational Psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Xuan Li, Assistant Professor of Psychology, NUY Shanghai
Social Policy Subcommittee
Committee charge: To oversee AC policy-related matters and coordinate with tri-caucus; Identify AC members with policy-relevant expertise, help prepare statements or policy briefs about relevant research impacting Asian and Asian American children
Dr. Tomoko Wakabayashi, Chair, twakabayashi@oakland.edu, Associate Professor at Oakland University, Michigan
Other members:
Dr. Kaveri Subrahmanyam, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Fl.
Puja Patel, Ph.D. student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Dr. Gabrielle Lai, Lecturer, Centre for Applied Behavioural & Social Sciences, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore
Dr. Sunah Hyun, Senior Researcher at Tufts University and Research Fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Dr. Tzu-Fen Chang, Assistant Professor at California State University, Bakersfield
International Scholars Network Subcommittee
Committee charge: To promote engagement among AC members outside of the USA; Identify research and conference interests of AC members in the respective regions to facilitate international interactions and collaborations among members
Dr. Yishan Shen, Chair, y_s77@txstate.edu, Assistant Professor at the Texas State University
Other members:
Dr. Eva Chen, Associate Professor at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Dr. Jessie Koh, Assistant Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Tomoko Wakabayashi, Associate Professor of Psychology at Oakland University, Michigan
Dr. Hoi Shan Cheung, Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Division of Social Sciences at Yale-NUS College
Yuan Zhang, PhD student at University of Connecticut
Responsibilities
Chairperson
- Provides leadership for the Asian Caucus
- Coordinates and facilitates Steering Committee and general membership meetings
- Takes the lead on external leadership issues: is the principal liaison between the Asian Caucus and other Caucuses and external bodies, or designates person(s) to act in this capacity in consultation with the Steering Committee
Chairperson-Elect
- Coordinates and facilitates Steering Committee meetings, in the absence of the Chair
- Takes the lead on internal leadership issues
- Coordinates SRCD preconference events
- Chairs the Nominations Committee
- Two years after being elected to office, assumes the Chair position at the close of the SRCD Biennial Meeting
Treasurer
- Oversees Caucus finances including holding custody of and dispensing Caucus funds
- Records, reports, and archives records of Caucus income and expenditures
- Provides at minimum annual budget reports and proposed next-year budgets to the Steering Committee
- Maintains membership records
- Provides annual reports to the steering committee about the membership
- Takes the lead on membership drives and external fundraising, including providing reports to the steering committee about funding opportunities
- When the term ends, passes archive of financial records to the next Treasurer
Secretary
- Records, reports, and archives the transactions of the Steering Committee and Caucus activities. This includes recording minutes at Caucus Steering and general membership meetings, reporting minutes after the meetings, and archiving them.
- Provides annual reports to the membership on the Steering Committee and Caucus activities
- Takes the lead on Caucus communications, including those between Caucus members, Steering Committee and Caucus members, and the Caucus and external bodies
- Is responsible for the listserv and website
- Archives the Caucus Policies and Procedures Manual, reports, communications, and dissemination materials
- When the term ends, pass the archive of documents to the next Secretary
Student Representative
- At the time of the election, the student representative must be engaged at least half-time in undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral training, including internship and residency. The student representative will continue their term regardless of changes in student status.
- Represents student interests on the Steering Committee and provides leadership on those issues
- Takes the lead in coordinating career development and mentoring activities for students and other early career researchers