Leadership Team
U. Mark Akpaninyie
Mark Akpaninyie is a researcher focusing on China's Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese investment and soft power abroad, and China-Africa relations. He previously worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)... Read More
Titilayo Ogundele
Nataltia Simmons-Thomas
Natalia is a Chinese linguist and open source analyst with over four years of experience in analysis and translation of Chinese language sources, including CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure)… Read More
Alexis Alton
Alexis Alton is a sophomore at Columbia University, majoring in East Asian Studies. Alexis began her study of Mandarin in ninth grade, sparking her interest in Chinese language and cultural studies. She joined BCC in 2023, where she currently… Read More
Dr. Keisha A. Brown
Dr. Keisha Brown is an assistant professor of history at Tennessee State University in the Department of History, Political Science, Geography, and Africana Studies. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame… Read More
Greyson Mann
Greyson is an international trade professional and is a Government Affairs Manager at the US-China Business Council. He previously served as a Founding Team Member and Assistant Director of Whittle School & Studios’…Read More
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith is a High Point University AmeriCorps VISTA Member. He works on building capacity for World Relief Triad, an Immigrant & Refugee resettlement organization funded by the U.S. Department of State. As a …Read More
Mycal L. Ford
Mycal Ford is an open source analyst whose focus areas include international illicit finance and tools of economic statecraft. Previously, he worked at the Department of Defense, the CECC, the Center for Advanced Defense Studies… Read More
Marques Kitchen
Marques Kitchen attended the Johns Hopkins University for Government, as well as the University of International Business in Beijing, China, for International Relations. He lived in China for seven years working as an educator and…Read More
Avonda S. Fogan
Avonda Fogan is the Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships and Alumni Impact at KIPP Foundation. In her role, she works closely with the KIPP Through College and Development teams to establish partnerships to secure internships for alumni... Read More
Cole Walker
Cole Walker is working to obtain a Master's Degree in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University as a member of the Schwarzman Scholars program’s 8th cohort. He graduated from Duke University in 2023 with Bachelor… Read More
Cameryn Burnette
Cameryn Burnette is a Schwarzman Scholar studying Global Leadership at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. She graduated with her B.S. in Civil Engineering from the illustrious Howard University. While a Howard student.…Read More
Dalton Favors
Dalton Favors is a senior at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, pursuing a double major in Economics and Chinese Studies. He has studied Mandarin Chinese for six years and was a 2021 student at Middlebury’s …Read More