Through his new role, Chen hopes to broaden Roadrunners’ global awareness and increase opportunities for students to engage with the field of international affairs.

October 30, 2026

by Maeve Weber ‘30

Longtime Ramapo College of New Jersey Professor of Political Science Dean Chen, PhD, has been selected to become an education ambassador for the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Chen was selected as one of just 80 higher education faculty and administrators from 42 states to be part of the 2026-2027 CFR Education Ambassadors Program. The cohort also includes 80 high school educators. Together they will champion global affairs literacy, ensuring that students not only understand global issues but also see their own role in shaping them.

The program serves to bring educators from throughout the country together to utilize their talents in order to help students make sense of the world. The educators selected for the program will aim to improve the global literacy of their students by integrating topics like global affairs into their teaching in creative and forward-thinking ways, whilst providing feedback to CFR, a leading foreign-policy thinktank that publishes Foreign Affairs.

“Educators are on the frontlines protecting America’s democracy,” said Caroline Netchvolodoff, Vice President of Education at the Council on Foreign Relations. “The Ambassador program allows us to bring together those who are leading the charge in advancing students’ global affairs literacy so that we can learn from their wealth of experience.”

The Education Ambassador Program takes place over eight months. Within that period of time, the program provides an abundance of free education resources and opportunities for professional development, while connecting those involved with like-minded educators. Throughout the development of the ambassadors, their students are also able to develop new perspectives and knowledge.

“From rural schools to major universities, this diverse network brings a shared mission to classrooms across the country: helping students engage meaningfully with the global issues that affect their lives,” Chen said. The wide expanse of educators involved in the program will bring a unique and broadening perspective to the students who will benefit from it.

At Ramapo, Chen has been heavily involved in fostering students’ knowledge of global affairs for years. He has taught at the College since 2012, and carries a great deal of experience to add to the Education Ambassador Program. Chen specializes in international politics, United Nations (UN), and U.S.-China-Taiwan relations. Since 2012, he has served as the advisor to Ramapo’s award-winning Model UN Club. The Model UN’s purpose is to provide students with a pragmatic understanding of the UN as a vital actor and a key international institution in global affairs.

Chen is hopeful that the CFR Education Ambassador Program will provide him with even more resources and connections to rely on when working with students who take interest in global matters.

“I hope to promote and broaden our students’ perspectives and opportunities of engagement with international affairs, raising their global awareness and interests in study abroad, applying for prestigious scholarships like Fulbright and even pursuing graduate studies or a future career in foreign service and diplomacy,” Chen said.

In addition to developing his students, Chen expressed excitement in being able to connect with other like-minded scholars involved in the program. “[As] a scholar on U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, I also wish to contribute and exchange ideas on research with fellow ambassadors in the program, seeking new inspirations and scholarly venues for potential future collaboration,” Chen said.

The program allows the opportunity to connect Chen, as well as Ramapo, with various experts on important international matters. With the resources the program provides, Roadrunners will be well-equipped to foster their interests in global affairs.

At Ramapo, students who express interest in global affairs are able to participate in an International Program. The College has developed a diverse selection of more than 300 individual program options in more than 40 countries. Ramapo’s diverse study abroad programs introduce students to a unique perspective on international matters, and allows them hands-on experience.

For more information on study abroad opportunities, visit Ramapo’s Study and Intern Abroad webpage. For information on studying political science at Ramapo, visit the College’s political science webpage.