Mira Vance (Research Fellow) graduated from Middlebury College with a Bachelors in International and Global Studies. She then received her Masters in China Studies: Law and Society at Yenching Academy of Peking University where she explored the approaches that China’s grassroots disability advocacy organizations are taking to survive and thrive in a tense political context. Gender, disability, and grassroots development continue to be the focal point of her research and advocacy. As a research fellow at the Centre, she focuses on understanding Indonesian ecofeminist perspectives and efforts they have taken to improve sustainability in Indonesia’s tourism industry.
Email :
miraannvance@gmail.com
miraannvance@gmail.com
LANGUAGE SKILLS
- Native language: English
- Advanced : Chinese
Computer SKILLS
- Excel, PowerPoint, iMovie, MS Office, Canva, Google Systems: Sheets, Gmail, Slides, Drive, Calendar, etc.
Education
- June 2025
Master of Law, China Studies: Law and Society, Yenching Academy at Peking University - February 2023
Bachelor of Arts, Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, Psychology, Disability Studies, Middlebury College
COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH AND EVENT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
- Yenching Academy Cultural Festival (Beijing, China – May 2024)
– Event Organizer/Festival Committee Chair - Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan (Washington D.C. – January 2023 – April 2023)
– Victory Congressional Institute Intern - Middsafe: Middlebury Safe and Confidential Advocates (Middlebury, VT – August 2019 – February 2023)
– Co-chair/Advocate/Head of Social Media and Recruitment - The Initiative Colorado (Denver, CO – May 2021 – August 2021)
– Social Media and Outreach Intern - Middlebury College Arts (Middlebury, VT – September 2019 – February 2023)
– Head House Manager
RECENT RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
- Masters Thesis for Peking University (Beijing, China – July 2024 – May 2025)
– Reimagining Grassroots Disability Development in China - Research for China in Transition (Beijing and Shenzhen, China – February 2024 – June 2024)
– From the Ground Up: An Analysis of China’s Grassroots Sex Education Initiatives - Dean’s Research Grant (Beijing and Shanghai, China – December 2023 – June 2024)
– Swinging into a New Generation - Research for China and International Law (Beijing, China – September 2023 – January 2024)
– The Impact of the UNCRPD on Disability Law and Social Policy in China - 2022-2023 Humanities Fellow in China and Gender Studies (Middlebury, VT – April 2022-February 2023)
– The Kellogg Fellowship
HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE
- Hansen Leadership Institute (San Diego, CA – July, 2022)
– 2022 US Fellow - Humanity in Action (Copenhagen, June 2022-August 2023)
– 2022 Copenhagen Fellow
EDITING EXPERIENCE
- Yenching Academy (Beijing, China – September 2024 – Present )
– Teaching Assistant - Elite Scholars of China (Virtual/ Beijing, China – May 2024 – Present)
– Counselor - ElevatEd (Virtual – October 2023 – January 2024 )
– Asynchronous Editor - Middlebury College Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research (Middlebury, VT – September 2022 – February 2023)
– CTLR Office Staff
DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION RELATED COURSEWORK
- Women in Contemporary China (Fall 2023)
– Gained key insights into Chinese women’s movements and current challenges women experience in China - IGST 0710: Global Gender and Sexuality Senior Thesis (Spring 2022-Fall 2022)
– Wrote a 90 page thesis entitled “The “Real Men” of China: Constructions of Masculinity Through Primary School Education
for the Purposes of State in Contemporary China” - AMST 307: Disability Studies US and World (Fall 2021)
– Explored disability’s changing meanings in the US and around the world - CHNS 425: Chinese Social Issues and Advanced Readings (Fall 2021)
– Discussed daily readings on current social issues and topics in China in Chinese - ENVS 209: Gender Health Environment (Spring 2021)
– Examined the ways that gender, class, race, and other forms of identity mediate human-environment interactions - GSFS 320: Feminist Theory (Spring 2020)
– Delved into key feminist texts and theories that have shaped the analysis of gender and sexuality