Staff

Professor Matt Winters is a professor of the Department of Political Science and was appointed as the director of the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies (CEAPS) on August 16, 2024.  Matt researches international development and governance in multiple East and Southeast Asian contexts, and he brings to the role a long history of active participation in the life of the Center. 

Contact Information: mwinters@illinois.edu

Yuchia Chang joined CEAPS as our Associate Director in May 2016. She works with our Director and staff to plan and manage various aspects of CEAPS programs and collaborative initiatives. Yuchia is an arts management professional with over 15 years of experience as an administrator, curator, and project manager in the non-profit and higher-education settings. She has taught arts entrepreneurship at Columbia College Chicago, and has served on several arts review panels for the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois.

Contact Information: yuchia@illinois.edu

Alex has been a part of the Illinois family since 2010.  She graduated here with her bachelors in Elementary Education, her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and then received an endorsement in school librarian.  Alex taught elementary level in the Champaign community for over nine years before joining the CEAPS team.  At CEAPS Alex assists with center programing and coordinates outreach events and opportunities for the community.

Contact Information: park387@illinois.edu

Rosa works in CEAPS business office and assists with center events and programs. Her interests include Korean language and culture, and she is currently working towards a bachelors in Elementary Education.  

Contact Information: rmpullen@illinois.edu

Jinwon is PhD candidate of Political Science, University of Illinois at Urbana– Champaign. She served as a researcher at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and a research associate at the Korea Institute for National Unification. (She/her)

Contact Information: jinwonl3@illinois.edu

Yeowon Lim is a second year Ph.D. student in the political science department at UIUC. Her research interests lie in political psychology, involving voting choices, information-processing, moral dilemma, social identity, and political tolerance. 

Contact Information: yeowonl2@illinois.edu