Angela Baldwin
Staff Reporter
Dr. Qin Fang, new professor in the History Department, didn’t always desire to go into the History field. In fact, she originally wanted to major in English and Literature while attending Anhui Normal University in China.
However, her future was not to be with English. In fact, because of the educational structure in China, History essentially chose her.
At Anhui Normal, taking entrance tests to get into the major programs is the custom. Her highest score was in the History. As a result, she became a History major. “The department chooses you,” Fang said. “Even if you don’t like it, it’s hard to transfer.”
With test results dictating her future, Fang attended Fudan University to get her masters in History. Fudan was “very prestigious,” she explained. “They call it the Chinese Princeton.”
She then went to Minneapolis to get her PhD, while beginning her teaching career. She was first a teaching assistant and then an instructor of Asian history and culture at Minneapolis.
After presenting her dissertation and getting her PhD, she waited to see where her career would go.December 2007, McDaniel College interviewed and offered her a position.
The weather in Maryland was one of many things that lured her to McDaniel.
Minneapolis was too cold, she said, while Maryland had periods of warm and cold weather. In addition, she mentioned that “The weather in Maryland is more like the weather in Shanghai” ? a link to China that she cherishes.
Another reason why McDaniel attracted Fang was the cuisine; mainly the cuisine Maryland is most famous for, the Maryland Blue Crab.
“The blue crab here is just like the crabs we eat in Shanghai,” Fang said.
When asked about possible future classes she mentioned she would like to focus on “gender and family in modern China and sports history in China.” She said she would also like “to make a comparison between Chinese and Japanese women.”
Adapting to McDaniel will be an adjustment though.
“For the first few years, it’s hard. You have to get used to everything,” Fang said about getting used to a new job.
This semester, Dr. Fang is teaching East Asian History and Religion and Society in China. Her hobbies include surfing the internet and reading, especially Chinese and Japanese literature.
Fang is one of eight new faculty members. Other new faculty members include, Jackie Couti, Foreign Languages; Scott Hardy, Political Science and International Studies, James Kunz, Social Work; Kathleen Oxx, Philosophy and Religious Studies; Madeline Rhodes, Psychology; Richard Ross, Education; Michelle Young, Social Work.