Alison Bartel graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Chinese and a minor in Intelligence and Security Studies. She is currently continuing her academic studies at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Global Communication with concentrations in Public Diplomacy and U.S. Foreign Policy. Alison is also a Research Assistant with GWU’s School of Media and Public Affairs. Alison has a special interest in US-Asia policy, having studied abroad in Qingdao, Harbin, Nanjing and Shanghai over the span of her college career. Prior to joining Meridian, Alison interned at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, China, served as the Promotion and Marketing Coordinator at the Chi Heng Foundation in Shanghai, and interned at The Project 2049 Institute, where she had the opportunity to conduct independent research in Taiwan. Before becoming a Program Associate and Social Media Facilitator with the Professional Exchanges Division, Alison completed a marketing and communications internship with Meridian’s GlobalConnect Division. Alison speaks advanced Mandarin Chinese.