Addison Miller

Addison Miller participated in the 2024 CLS Chinese Program hosted by Tamkang University in New Taipei, Taiwan. Addison is currently studying international and comparative education policy at the University of Alabama. Her professional goal is to become a professor of higher education law and internationalization, researching the significance of higher education policy in U.S.-China relations. Addison will be returning to Taiwan this summer to teach Chinese as a program leader with international education nonprofit CIEE.

Why Chinese?

I attended an international high school with a large Chinese population. As a homeschooler who didn't know anyone coming in, I quickly bonded with these students, as they shared my feeling of being a fish out of water. Our friendships motivated my study of their first language, as it became a fun way to connect with them more fully by talking to their parents and attending cultural events. This social interest sparked my academic passion for understanding how education can bridge cultural divides, paving the way for a more empathetic and informed society.

A Favorite Idiom

成己成人 (Chéng jǐ chéngrén) is an idiom that means something like "personal success is helping other people to succeed." It is the motto of National Taiwan Normal University's Department of Education.

Career Goals

I plan to pursue a career as a professor and university administrator to facilitate educational exchange between the U.S. and China. This will require me to attain a PhD in either international affairs or higher education studies, for which, my study of Chinese will open up vast wells of knowledge to consult for my research. In my later career, my language proficiency will allow me to act as a more effective diplomat, connecting with officials at partner universities on a more personal level.

CLS’s Impact

CLS solidified that I was on the right path studying international education. Living in the U.S., I often questioned if my path was worth following, as it is hard to conceptualize the international impact of a global superpower's domestic policy on the international system while living there.

However, once I found myself on the ground in Taiwan, I felt vindicated, realizing that I was right to believe in the importance of educational exchange and civilian diplomacy in global peace and progress. Now that I have returned to the U.S., I am doubly committed not only to this path but also to pursuing more international experiences to further enrich my understanding of how to create educational systems and policies that promote global peace and understanding.