A More Nuanced Understanding of China
Name: Alexandre Nazaire
Degree: Certificate in Chinese and American Studies + MAIR
Tell us about your background and how you became interested in studying China.
I’m a Haitian American and originally from Baltimore, Maryland, but I spent much of my childhood in Rwanda and Cameroon. That experience has shaped how I see the world and sparked an early interest in cultures, languages, and global affairs. I later attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where I studied Combined Languages: Chinese, Spanish, German, and Japanese.
My interest in China began somewhat unexpectedly. Between the end of my senior year of high school and the start of college, I was originally planning to pursue a double major in Spanish and economics. However, there was no space in any Spanish courses during my first semester. My mother, who had studied abroad in China during her undergraduate years, suggested that I try Chinese instead. From my very first semester, I connected deeply with the language and with my Chinese professor, and I became determined to push my proficiency as far as I could. That interest only deepened throughout college.
After graduating, I joined Fulbright Taiwan and spent two years teaching English in northeastern and southwestern Taiwan. While in my second year there, I realized how strongly I wanted to pursue a career in international relations and deepen my academic engagement with China. Although I was disappointed that the pandemic prevented me from studying abroad in mainland China during college, I was grateful to immerse myself in the Mandarin-speaking world through Taiwan—and especially thankful that I was finally able to travel to the mainland last year, bringing that long journey full circle.
In March 2025, my grandparents came to visit me in China. The last time they visited the country was when my mother was studying abroad as an undergraduate.
I hope to contribute to improving U.S.–China relations by helping design and implement policies that prioritize long-term stability, mutual understanding, and constructive engagement between the two countries.
Before joining the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and Johns Hopkins SAIS, what were you doing, and what led you to apply?
I was in my second year with Fulbright Taiwan as an English teaching assistant. I spent my first year in Yilan and my second year in Chiayi, experiences that gave me a deeper appreciation for Taiwan’s regional diversity and its place in the broader Chinese-speaking world.
In October 2023, it really crystallized for me that I wanted to pursue international relations as a career. For some time, I had been increasingly drawn to the idea of entering the U.S. Foreign Service, and I found myself constantly reading, watching lectures and interviews, and educating myself as much as possible about global politics and diplomacy. The more I learned, the more certain I became that this was the field I wanted to dedicate myself to. That realization ultimately pushed me to seek the HNC Certificate of Chinese & American Studies, plus SAIS MAIR program where I could combine rigorous policy training with deep regional and language expertise.
What has been one of your most meaningful or memorable class moments so far?
It’s definitely Leadership, Ethics, and Decision Making, taught by Professor Leigh Nolan. What made the class especially impactful was that it went beyond studying great leaders and their ideas in theory. Through hands-on activities and simulations, we were constantly challenged to put our own leadership skills to the test. The course pushed us to reflect on what kind of leaders we are, helping us identify our strengths as well as areas for growth. I also found myself learning a great deal from my classmates: their speaking abilities, convictions, and approaches to decision-making.
Towards the end of the school year, a group of us HNC students visited the Langya Mountains (琅琊山). Two were even granted free entry because they memorized a long script called 醉翁亭记.
What has been your favorite student experience so far, and why?
My favorite thing about Nanjing was having the opportunity to learn alongside Chinese students and professors. Being in that environment allowed me to better understand Chinese perspectives on U.S.–China relations—how people view the United States, how they think about their own country, and how those views are shaped by history and lived experience. The ability to interact bilingually in and outside of the classroom, participate in thoughtful discussions, and directly engage with these perspectives gave me a much deeper and more nuanced understanding of China than I could have gained anywhere else.
I was fortunate to be surprised for my birthday in our activity room, the day before spring classes started.
If you’ve been involved in any extracurricular activities or student groups, could you please tell us about that?
At the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, I participated in all the sports clubs: basketball, ping-pong, badminton, soccer, and volleyball. At SAIS DC, I’ve been involved in several student organizations, including the China Club, the Consulting Club, the Africa Club, and the Black Student Union. I’ve also participated in prospective student outreach as an Admissions Fellow, helping applicants learn more about SAIS and the HNC experience. These roles have allowed me to stay engaged beyond the classroom, connect with students across programs, and contribute to building a supportive and inclusive community.
My favorite extracurricular as a Hopkins-Nanjing Center student was our intramural basketball team. We played the fall and spring season against other Nanjing University students.
Tell us a little bit about your internship experience(s).
From June to December 2025, I interned at Walmart’s corporate office on the Global Public Policy team, specifically within the PolicyLab. In this role, I worked closely on issues related to stakeholder capitalism, and supported several bilingual projects with Walmart Mexico, including the design and analysis of surveys. I also helped develop AI queries to support research and policy analysis.
Beyond the day-to-day work, the internship gave me valuable exposure to how the private and public sectors interact. I had the opportunity to engage with colleagues from Walmart's corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, as well as members of the Global Public Policy, Global Government Affairs, and Federal Government Affairs teams. That experience helped me to better understand how interconnected these spaces are and how the private sector works alongside governments to shape and respond to policy outcomes.What do you plan on pursuing after graduation? Where do you see yourself 5 to10 years after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to return to mainland China or Taiwan and work in roles such as consulting, policy analysis, or at a think tank. I’m very open in terms of sector, but I’m especially interested in positions that allow me to analyze China-related issues, engage across borders, and apply my language skills and policy training in real-world settings.
Looking five to 10 years ahead, my goal is to enter the U.S. Foreign Service and pursue a career as a diplomat. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to improving U.S.–China relations by helping design and implement policies that prioritize long-term stability, mutual understanding, and constructive engagement between the two countries.
In June 2025, I graduated from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center with a Certificate in Chinese and American Studies.
What is one piece of advice you would give to students in the process of choosing graduate schools?
One piece of advice I would give is to get to know each program as deeply as possible. If you have the opportunity to visit campus, take full advantage of it—ask every question you’ve been wondering about, and pay close attention to how the environment feels. Do your research on the program and genuinely try to envision yourself there. Ask whether this is something you can truly see yourself committing to for the next two years.
I would also strongly encourage reaching out to admissions offices, current students, fellows, or admissions counselors to get an honest sense of what life in the program is really like. Graduate school is a significant investment, both financially and personally, so having a clear and realistic picture matters. (And no, I’m not just saying this because I work in admissions.)
HNC Prom 2025 was a night to remember. This is one of my last memories of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, having everyone gathered towards the end of our semester.
If you are looking to learn more about what it's like to be a current student at Johns Hopkins SAIS, we encourage you to schedule a virtual appointment with one of our Admissions Fellows.
Enjoyed reading Alexandre's experience? Learn more about our Certificate in Chinese and American Studies + MAIR.
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