Zhiye Ding (he/him) is an educator and researcher from China with a deep commitment to language, equity, and community. He holds a dual B.A. in Sociology from Duke University and Duke Kunshan University, and an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. Over the past several years, Zhiye has cultivated extensive teaching and mentoring experience in China, and more recently, in diverse educational settings across Chicago—including the University of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Catholic schools, and charter schools—where he has taught both Mandarin Chinese and English Language Arts (ELA).

As an incoming Ph.D. student in Applied Linguistics, Zhiye’s research interests span sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, language and ideology, and the role of language in constructing gender and sexuality. He is particularly invested in exploring how linguistic practices shape experiences of identity and power, especially within Asian LGBTQ+ communities. By bridging his academic research and professional teaching practice, Zhiye is committed to promoting gender equity and empowering marginalized voices. In his free time, he enjoys playing musical instruments and learning new languages.