Wong named to prestigious Fulbright Taiwan program

Jason Wong ’24 wants to kick down stereotypes.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Wong arrived at Centre College as a Grissom Scholar and cultivated his passion for diplomacy and public policy. Now, he’ll put those skills to the test as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan.

"The United States is a diverse place with people of different backgrounds. Being Chinese American, I have always loved sharing my story — being from New York City, going to college in the middle of Kentucky and studying abroad in a bunch of places — I think this will fit in well," he said.

Wong will be one of eight English Teaching Assistants (ETA) in Chiayi County, Taiwan. An international studies and Chinese double major, he said his time at Centre helped give him a leg up in the application process. 

 "My international studies major gave me the freedom to choose classes that I was interested in — like U.S. and China relations," Wong said. "With the Chinese major, I feel like I better understand the culture, it's so much more than just speaking the language." 

The first-generation student credited the professors in Centre’s Chinese Program — Mei Li Inouye and Jingjing Cai — for their support and guidance throughout his time at Centre. Along with Robert Schalkoff, director of the Office of Fellowships, Wong used the support available to secure prestigious fellowships, like being part of the inaugural cohort of John Lewis Scholars and Fellows and a Hansen Leadership Institute fellow.

"These relationships were instrumental in my academic and professional development, providing personalized support, valuable insights and encouragement throughout my journey," Wong said. 

It's through that journey that Wong has discovered his passion for connections and relationships from people with different backgrounds.

"I love connecting and talking with people," he said. "This won't just be another part of the world, it's a completely different and unique culture. Being immersed in that, I think it gives you the ability to sympathize and think critically about issues that we hear about in the news."

Pictured at top: Jason Wong '24 pictured with Chinese program professors Mei Li Inouye (left) and Jingjing Cai (right).

Learn more about the Fulbright Taiwan program here. 

Students interested in exploring the world of fellowships are encouraged to contact Robert Schalkoff at fellowships@centre.edu to start a conversation about their goals and passions. The office also shares information via email about opportunities that are specific to class cohorts from first-year students to seniors.