Former Confucius Institute Director To Chair World Languages Department

Xuejun (Jim) Yu, who previously served as director of the Confucius Institute, was named interim department chair of the World Languages department at Wolfson Campus. He started his new role on Oct. 1. 

Yu will be responsible for leading the department and maintaining curriculum standards until a permanent replacement is found. 

He assumes the position after an almost decade-long tenure leading the Confucius Institute, where he was responsible for the expansion of Chinese curriculum at the College. The College announced in September that it will end its relationship with the CI at the end of the fall semester. 

Prior to working at the College, Yu taught Chinese language and culture courses at Jiangxi University in China, the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida. 

He completed his undergraduate studies at Jiangxi University. After receiving a master’s degree in communication from the University of Hawaii, he earned a doctorate degree in international communication from UF.