Meet Chubing Li

Years of language learning experience have given Chubing Li an ability to adapt to changing environments and inspired her to build bridges across cultures.
 

When Chubing Li completed her undergraduate studies in English literature at Peking University in Beijing, China, and started to think about her next steps, she wanted to apply her language skills toward something tangible and relevant to today’s society. The subject of international relations piqued her interest, and she began to seek out opportunities to explore the field. The more she immersed herself in this area of study, the more she saw how each of her previous decisions and experiences built upon the ones before — sometimes in unexpected ways.       

The field of global affairs spans a wide spectrum and touches upon various industries and domains. Now at Stanford, she dedicates her time to understanding the intricacy of clean energy transition while pursuing a joint master's degree in international policy at the School of Humanities and Sciences and the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER) at the Doerr School of Sustainability. Long term, she aspires to promote collaboration between China and other countries toward ensuring the equality, affordability, and reliability of alternative energy sources.       
 

How did your academic interests evolve from English literature to global affairs?

Driven by my childhood dream to become a diplomat, I studied English literature as an undergraduate at Peking University, so I could expose myself to cultures that are different from my own. Along the way, I learned to be self-reliant, and I wanted to choose a path based on my own passion rather than aligning with external expectations of what I should do. So instead of studying the classics, I looked for opportunities to apply my language skills in a more tangible way. Being part of diverse communities over the years has opened my eyes to new ideas and given me the courage to take a different life approach. 

What experiences before Stanford influenced your educational path?

Fascinated by the Biblical narrative of the Tower of Babel, I set foot on one foreign land after another, practicing the enabling power of communication to know, connect, and change. This aspiration led me to set my sights on the Schwarzman Scholars program, a one-year master’s program in global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University. Between the completion of my undergraduate studies and Schwarzman College, I took a gap year and worked as a politics editor at China Global Television Network (CGTN), striving to make the voice of China more accessible to the world. My time at CGTN exposed me to the intricacies of geopolitics, highlighting the importance of cooperation among nations and regions in addressing global issues. I desired a deeper understanding of the forces that bring countries together or drive them apart. During my research with Stanford Professor Michael McFaul on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and great power relations, I gained invaluable insights. 

I deferred my enrollment at Stanford for a year due to COVID. During this time, I contributed to a clean energy startup founded by several Peking University alumni, focusing on energy storage solutions. The experience of building a battery factory in rural China taught me invaluable lessons in adaptability, open mindedness, humility, and resilience amid uncertainty, chaos, and challenges. Now, I'm studying international policy at Stanford, with a specialization in energy and sustainable development. My work involves taking an interdisciplinary approach to address climate change through policy, impact investment, and energy innovation.

What factors motivated you to apply to Stanford? 

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s idea that the best ship sails in a zigzag line has inspired me to embrace occasional inconsistency, knowing it provides leeway for a self-reliant journey of exploration. I believe in allowing oneself enough space to experiment and then stepping back to see where you are headed. In keeping with that approach, I wanted to put myself in a completely new environment, where I could learn from others. Stanford seemed like that kind of place.

The idea of applying to Stanford originated when I was doing cultural exchange activities during my undergraduate years. Through those programs, I got to know some students from Stanford. They were all about exploring what’s possible, and I wanted to be more like that. I wanted to put myself in a community of people that I would look up to. Stanford is the only place I applied for graduate school, and it has turned out to be a perfect intellectual home for me.

How did you learn about Knight-Hennessy Scholars?

I first learned about Knight-Hennessy Scholars in 2016 when I was looking at graduate programs. But I didn’t feel I would be a strong candidate at the time. Later, I came across the program again through an information session that was held at the Stanford Center at Peking University. I am always fascinated by depth, density, and diversity in international communication, and Knight-Hennessy provides an organic platform for these conversations, so I just put myself out there and started the application process.

How do you spend your time at Stanford?

As a graduate student in a joint master's program, my classes take up most of my time. Through coursework, conversations with professors and practitioners, and related activities, I’m finding that in this space, I’m able to combine all my passions together, whether it’s policy, energy, tennis, or communication. The free academic environment and diverse experiences of my Knight-Hennessy friends have encouraged me to break the silos of various subjects. I have been exploring avenues to process a vast amount of information and communicate it in an enticing and efficient way. 

To this end, I have enrolled in classes and participated in projects that would have been unimaginable to me before. I have taken the popular CS 106A & B and data science classes, leveraging the empirical data and visualization to tell a comprehensive story of the energy industry. Since I'm interested in the transition to clean energy, I'm trying to understand this field from an environmental engineering perspective, which also is new to me. 

I’ve also continued to work with Professor McFaul on his new book about great power relations among the U.S., Russia, and China. I’m the only Chinese student to have enrolled in this master’s program for the past three years, so this topic is interesting from a personal level — given my passion for establishing connections across cultures — as well as the societal and geopolitical perspective. 

What are some of your interests outside of your academic work?

I am making an effort to get to know more people from the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program. Together, we’ve explored parts of California and national parks across the U.S. Traveling with peers is a great way to deepen friendships. We have to navigate unexpected situations. We’re there for each other and can always find a way to make things work. 

The pandemic has taught me not only to accept the uncertainty and disruption but also to embrace it. Watercolor painting has been my quarantine-time activity and now has developed into a creative outlet and mindfulness activity. The colors are so fluid and you can paint on different textures, making something beautiful in the process. It’s a great contrast to fields of study that are highly structured.

How is Knight-Hennessy Scholars shaping your experience at Stanford?

For me, Knight-Hennessy is not just an academic experience; it's a life experience. I believe it will shape my perspective for the rest of my life, and I’m grateful for that. Being part of Knight-Hennessy Scholars has broadened my community and I’ve met people from so many different backgrounds. Hearing about their ideas and experiences has been eye opening for me. Most importantly, my fellow scholars teach me to be a doer. Big or small, your idea will only start to make an impact after you implement it. 

Another aspect is the special events that Knight-Hennessy Scholars organizes for us. For example, the workshop with Dr. Meag-gan O’Reilly about imposter syndrome especially resonated with me. On paper, everyone in the program seems so established, but we’re all dealing with our own internal struggles in one way or another. Bringing awareness to this reality helps us become more resilient people, which prepares us to take on bigger challenges.

I also enjoy the deep-dive sessions, when scholars are invited to talk about whatever matters to them. This kind of storytelling, whether it’s more structured or just an organic conversation over lunch, is the source of many new ideas, from a trip we all want to take or the beginning of a new startup. I’m certain, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community and my experiences here will be lifelong assets.

What advice would you give to someone considering applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars?

The application process is very thorough and can be intimidating, but it will help you discover who you really are and what you value. Applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars helped me connect the dots of my past experiences and think about some of the hard questions I might have been avoiding. You need to have an entrepreneur’s mindset when you decide to apply to a program like this. It's your job to be authentic and unapologetically yourself for the organization to discover how great you are. 

Talk to your friends, your family, and the people who are close to you and ask for their honest feedback. Communication skills are part of the process, so practice telling your own story in limited words and time. Focus on how you’ve grown and always have faith in yourself.

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