Yuan Tian (Michael) is a junior at Brown University concentrating in economics and international relations. Born in China and raised in the United States, Michael is driven to improve understanding and foster relationships between the two countries. With an academic focus on East Asia, he hopes that his two areas of study will inform him on the political and economic issues pertaining to the region. This past summer, Michael worked in Washington, D.C. as a research assistant for the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He focused on the origins of drug control policies in the 20th century, exploring both national and international legislation while highlighting the influence of the Opium Wars in China. On campus, Michael is currently the co-president of StraitTalk Brown, a non-partisan dialogue workshop that empowers young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to collaborate in transforming the Taiwan Strait conflict. He also serves as the finance chair for Brown Pre-Law Society, and a crisis manager for Brown Model UN. Michael works as an English tutor for Chinese students and enjoys all things Star Wars.