Diana Chen Lin came from Beijing, China, and completed a Ph.D. in history at the University of Chicago. She has taught Asian and world history—including East Asian cultures, politics, and societies—at Indiana University Northwest and in the IU Online History BA/MA programs, while conducting research on modern Chinese intellectual, cultural, and political history that approaches China’s transformations through transnational and global perspectives.

Announcements:

1. May 2027 IUN-Led Study Abroad to China Trip Open for Application: Professors Diana Chen Lin and Kathy Arfken at IU Northwest are organizing a study abroad trip to China (May 17-26, 2027) that explores three Chinese cities: Beijing, Suzhou, and Shanghai. The trip is open to all IU undergraduates, including IU Online undergraduates.

We are hosting a Zoom information session on Wednesday, Oct. 28, between 12 and 1 p.m. CT. The Zoom link is: https://iu.zoom.us/j/864624501019.

The trip fee is $3700, including round-trip airfare to and from China through Chicago O'Hare Airport, most meals and all activities, hotel rooms, admission tickets to parks and museums, and a high-speed train from Beijing to Suzhou. It also includes health coverage while in China and all other charges associated with the trip, such as a chartered bus in each city we visit and tour guides. The trip charge does not include application fees for a passport or a China visa, which is $140, nor trips to and from the O’Hare Airport. All who sign up for the trip also need to take two IUN summer online courses associated with the trip: HIST T190 Literary and Intellectual History in China, and THTR T283 Topics in Theatre & Drama: Chinese Performance.

The trip application portal is at: https://abroad-iu.via-trm.com/client/program_brochure/29751.

More information about the trip can be found at: https://blogs.iu.edu/easg/2026/09/08/iun-study-abroad-trip-to-china-may-17-26-2027-applications-open/.

For more information, contact Diana Chen Lin (dchenlin@iu.edu), and Kathy Arfken (karfken@iu.edu).

2. Check out the new "East Asia in Everyday Life Forum" announcement and submission guidelines.