About

History

GCA was formally organized in North Carolina in 2012 with private contributions from the US and China. We were formally recognized as a 503 (3) (c) non-profit in November 2012. Since its founding, its mission has been to promote a global curriculum and the development of collaborative programs, activities, and opportunities for students and teachers of the US and China.

Mission and Goals

Since 2012, the nonprofit Global Classroom Alliance (GCA) has been building educational bridges between China and the USA. That is our mission—building partnerships between schools, students, and faculty that benefit them and our two countries.

Our ambitious, overarching goal is to use the power of education to make the world a better place.

ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

GCA's staff works remotely through satellite offices located in Raleigh, North Carolina, Boston, Massachusetts, Shanghai, China, and Beijing, China. Over half of GCA's staff is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese. Each staff person has acquired first-hand experience within the field of education between the US and China. GCA maintains relations with other non-profit and state organizations to further develop programs and opportunities in education.

Executive Team

Shijun Naour

Executive Director

Yongmei Wang

Director of Student Outreach Programs

Board of Advisors

Joe Tolson

Chair of GCA Advisory Board

James Gray

Co-Chair of GCA Advisory Board

Jerome Ma

Co-Chair of GCA Advisory Board (China)

Dr. Hope Williams

Advisor of Private Colleges and Universities

Dr. James Gehlhar

Advisor of Public Colleges and Universities

Shijun Naour, Executive Director

Shijun is a former China Programs Manager within UNC's Center for International Understanding. In her position she successfully established 35 separate partnerships between NC and Jiangsu Province (China) high school, which are still in existence today. Shijun has secured long-term relations with Hanban of China, which is famous for its Confucius Classrooms that educate students around the world on China's culture and language. Shijun also has extensive experience as a teacher of English and Chinese language, having held teacher certifications in Beijing and NC. Since joining GCA, Shijun has successfully established the English Immersion Programs between China and the US and led more than 100 Chinese students in NC-based study tours in NC.

Shijun is responsible for representing GCA's mission to the public through day-to-day operations, delegations, and through coordination between GCA's partners and supporters.

"Jackie" Wang Yongmei, Director of Student Outreach Programs

Jackie has spent nearly 10 years developing opportunities for Chinese educators and students having led numerous delegations to and from the United States. Jackie is the founder of the Jiayu School in Beijing, an international private high school serving Chinese students bound for international study and operated in partnership with Changping No. 1 High School since 2005.

Jackie is responsible for organizing and designing student exchange programs and summer camps for Chinese students visiting the United States.

Joe Tolson, Chair of GCA Advisory Board

Representative Tolson is the North Carolina House Representative for the 23rd District and a leader in the fields of education, economic development, and technology. He is the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Select Committee on Economic Recovery; and is the Vice-Chairman of the House Energy and Efficiency Committee and the House Science and Technology Committee. He is also a member of the Joint Legislative Committee for Education Oversight. As a respected leader in the North Carolina General Assembly, Representative Tolson works tirelessly to champion the cause of education.

James Gray, Co-Chair of GCA Advisory Board

James Gray has spent 16 years in higher and secondary education -- with a growing emphasis on providing Chinese and American students the opportunity to study in the other nation. Before retiring in May 2014 after five years' service, Jim was president of North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He entered into the partnership with GCA in 2013, traveled to China that year with the GCA delegation, and worked to recruit several Chinese students for the college. Prior to serving as a college president, Jim served for four years as the Associate Dean for External Affairs (fundraising and communications) at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School. It is consistently ranked in the Top 20 business schools in the world.

Jerome Ma, Co-Chair of GCA Advisory Board (China)

As Director of Government Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility for Lenovo China Group, Mr. Ma has more than 27 years of leadership experience working in the information technology and government sector. He possesses management experience at leading global multinational firms such as Motorola and Lenovo, and more than ten years experience working for the Chinese Government. From his diverse experience, Mr. Ma has deep insights into government relations, and the ability to manage relationships during fast organizational change.

Mr. Ma currently serves on the board of China Public Diplomacy Association and Beijing Haidian People's Friendship Association.

Dr. Hope Williams, Advisor of Private Colleges and Universities

Dr. Hope Williams is the President of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), the statewide advocacy and public policy organization for the 36 independent colleges and universities in North Carolina. As President, she is the Chief Executive Officer for the NCICU Board of Directors of college and university presidents and for the Independent College Fund of North Carolina board that also includes corporate trustees and raises corporate and foundation funds for student scholarships and programs. She has been president of NCICU since 1992.

On behalf of North Carolina independent higher education, Dr. Williams works closely with the State of North Carolina and with the federal government including the executive branches, the North Carolina General Assembly and Congress. She serves on the Governor's Education Cabinet and works in partnership with the presidents of the state university system, as well as the State Superintendent and chairman of the State Board of Education to address issues affecting education in North Carolina. Her leadership at NCICU includes advocating on public policy issues, providing research and information, raising corporate and foundation funds and administering collaborative and student enrichment programs. At the national level, Dr. Williams has served as chair of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities State Executives and as a member of the board of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Williams received her undergraduate degree in French and History from Duke University, and MPA degree from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received the Outstanding Service Award from the Rotary Club of Raleigh in 1997, was named the 1999 Distinguished Woman of North Carolina in Education, one of the top 25 Women in Business in 2001 by The Triangle Business Journal and a "Woman Extraordinaire" in 2005 by Business Leader Magazine. She has served as president of North Carolina Adult Education Association and of the North Carolina Association of Institutional Researchers. She currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Institute for Emerging Issues, and the boards of College Foundation, Incorporated, Advanced Energy Corporation, the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Communities in Schools of North Carolina, the Capital City Club, and Stop Hunger Now.

Dr. James "Jim" Gehlhar, Advisor of Public Colleges and Universities

As the Associate Vice Chancellor for International Affairs, Dr. Gehlhar directs the ECU Office of International Affairs and assists the entire campus in its extensive program of internationalization at every level. After having directed the University of Tennessee Center for International Education and worked in the University of Michigan International Center, Jim Gehlhar began work at ECU and in Greenville in July 2008. Among his numerous national and international roles, Jim was the 2008 Chair of the Education Abroad Knowledge Community of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, long served on the Board of Directors of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), and academic consortium in which ECU is very active, and is now on the Executive Board of the UNC Exchange Program. In addition to conducting wide international travel for both work and pleasure, Jim has resided for extended periods in Turkey, Lebanon, Iran and Scotland.