Walk across campus and you are bound to encounter the words “learn, lead and serve.” While it can be easy to view the phrase as just a slogan, visiting scholar Mei Shang sees it as a blueprint for daily action.
Shang, a professor from China, arrived at the University of Dayton in January 2025 as a guest of the English Department, hosted by Associate English Professor Xiaoli Li. Since then, she has woven these three core values into her research, teaching and community service.
At Xi’an International Studies University in China, Shang teaches English academic writing, guiding undergraduate students through argumentative and research papers. She came to UD to expand her expertise in current trends in technical and professional writing and bring that knowledge back to her students.
That desire for growth soon evolved into a cross-cultural educational exchange.
As part of her work in China, Shang advises English studies students as they write their undergraduate theses, a challenging process for non-native English speakers. Hoping to better support them, she and Li facilitated a Collaborative Online International Learning project during spring 2025, connecting students in China with Li’s students in Dayton through Zoom and email.
Students from both countries worked together to edit papers and prepare for oral defenses. Along the way, they navigated language barriers, exchanged perspectives and gained a better understanding of each other’s educational experiences.
Shang’s interest in technical writing also extends beyond the classroom. Curious about how writing can support nonprofit organizations, she turned her attention toward community service.
In October 2025, she began volunteering with Five Rivers MetroParks, where she has accumulated nearly 100 hours of service. She regularly assists the conservation program at Sugarcreek MetroPark by collecting data on amphibian habitats and behaviors. She also serves as an educator for local elementary school students, teaching them about plants and animals native to the Dayton area.
For Shang, learning and serving go hand in hand. Her experiences in the parks have inspired her to write a children’s book exploring how children in the United States and China experience nature, plants and wildlife.
As she looks toward returning to China, Shang hopes to lead new academic programs, initiatives and classes focused on technical writing and nonprofit work. Through her experiences at UD, she is bringing new knowledge, cross-cultural connections and a commitment to service back to her students and community.
Her journey is a reminder that “learn, lead and serve” is more than a phrase on campus. It is a way of turning curiosity into connection, knowledge into action and learning into meaningful service.