African-American China Leadership Fellows Program

The 2025 program is no longer accepting applications.

Program Introduction

The African-American China Leadership Fellows Program (AACLF) is committed to identifying and developing talented mid-career professionals in the China field, addressing a critical need to surface the broad talent base that is needed on the front lines of U.S.-China relations. By fostering the growth of emerging leaders, the program deepens the pool of American China expertise and increases U.S. national security and competitiveness.

Now in its fifth year, the program selects a cohort of exceptional mid-career professionals and provides them with the support of experienced mentors and the program team. Participants enhance their career skills, deepen their policy knowledge, and build valuable professional networks, equipping them to advance in their careers and attain senior leadership roles across government, industry, and civil society.

Program Format

The program spans 9 months, from mid-April through mid-December. Fellows are paired with one of the mentors above, each of whom has deep experience engaging with China. The substance of the program focuses on further developing core career capacities, including communication skills, networking, goal setting, and navigating career pathways, and then working together to actively promote career advancement. It combines twice-monthly individual sessions with a mentor with monthly cohort events. The program culminates with an in-person trip for the cohort to Washington DC or another relevant location where they will be joined by the previous years’ alumni.

Qualifications

Applicants should be African-Americans who have:

demonstrated a commitment to developing a China-focused career
studied and/or worked abroad in Mainland China and/or Taiwan
a minimum of five years’ relevant work experience
a strong focus and drive to achieve his/her career goals
Mandarin Chinese language skills (ILR 2/2+ minimum)

Application Instructions

The 2025 program is no longer accepting applications. To see our 2024 fellows, please click here.

We are looking for people with outstanding potential who are ready to become the next generation of leaders and mentors in the China space. All applicants should first register as members of AMS, then prepare a résumé, the names and email addresses of two references, and the answers to the following questions.

Why are you interested in this program? What do you hope to accomplish? Where are you now, and where do you hope to go in the next five years? (500 words max)
Why China? Describe your experience with and interest in China, and how China relates to your goals. (250 words max)

Please submit your applications by following this link. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, closing March 17th, so we encourage early application. Feel free to contact us with any questions at ChinaLeadershipFellows@gmail.com

Support Us

We are seeking individual and corporate sponsors to help support this critically important program. To learn more, please contact nat@mandarinsociety.us

Program Team

Dewardric McNeal

Managing Director, Longview Global LLC

Nathaniel Ahrens

Executive Director, American Mandarin Society

Christina Shih

Program Manager – Leadership Development, Workday, AACLF Program Lead, American Mandarin Society

Rebecca Ash-Cervantes

Program Manager, American Mandarin Society

We are extremely grateful for our program sponsors, without whom this program would not be possible, and whose
program support demonstrates their strong, active commitment to surfacing the talent needed on the front lines of U.S.-China relations.

The American Mandarin Society is dedicated to helping Americans develop and maintain their Chinese language skills, deepen their policy knowledge, and build the professional networks that allow them to engage in the vital work of strengthening U.S. competitiveness.