spotlight

Phuong Chung Nguyen, Senior Lecturer and Director of the Vietnamese Language Program at Columbia University, has been selected as a 2026 Vietnamese Language Ambassador Abroad, representing the United States. The recognition, presented by Vietnam’s State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to teaching, preserving, and promoting the Vietnamese language around the world. In 2026, eight ambassadors from eight countries and territories were selected.

At Columbia, Chung Nguyen has worked to strengthen Vietnamese language education and connect it with Vietnam Studies, cultural programming, and community engagement. The award recognizes her continuing commitment to bringing Vietnamese language and culture to students and communities in the United States.

Read the Culture Newspaper article

Here are some highlights from the EALAC graduation celebration held on 5/19/26.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We are so proud of your achievements!

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Columbia University students achieved notable success once again at the Chinese Bridge Competition (Eastern U.S. Region), a premier international event celebrating Chinese language and culture worldwide. The competition took place on April 25, 2026, at China Institute in America in New York City. Both Columbia participants advanced to the final round and secured top honors.

First Prize winner Hannah Yanover (CC’ 26), a computer science major, was coached and mentored by Dr. Jia Xu. Third Prize winner Tylan Ram Joshi (CC’ 26), also a computer science major, was mentored by Dr. Shaoyan Qi. This victory marks the second time that students from the Chinese Language Program have won the championship. The achievement builds on last year’s remarkable sweep of First, Second, and Third Prizes by Columbia and Barnard students. As First Prize winner, Hannah Yanover will represent the US (Eastern region) to compete at the 2026 Chinese Bridge global final in China this summer.