Peidong Sun

Awards and Honors

Academic Appointments 

1. Distinguished Associate Professor of Arts & Sciences in China and Asia-Pacific Studies, Jul., 2022-Present
2. Associate Professor of History at Cornell University, Nov., 2021-Present
3. Digital Visiting Professor, Institute of Sinology, Heidelberg University, Apr. 2021-Oct. 2021.
4. Resident Fellow, European Institute for Chinese Studies Paris, Feb. 2021- Jun. 2021.
5. Visiting Professor, Center for International Studies, Paris Institute of Political Studies, Feb. 2020-Feb. 2021.
6. Associate Professor, Department of History, Fudan University, Jul., 2013- Feb., 2020
7. Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, East China University of Political Sciences and Law, Jul., 2010-Jun., 2013
8. Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Shanghai University, Jul., 2007-Jun., 2010

Academic Fellowships:

1. Cornell Center for Social Sciences Faculty Fellow, Aug. 2026- May. 2027.
2. Visiting Scholar, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Harvard University, Aug. 2016-Aug. 2017.
3. Edward Teller National Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Sept. 2017–Aug. 2018.
4. BBRG Non-Resident Scholar, Department of Gender & Women’s Studies, University of California, Berkeley, Sept. 2018-Aug. 2019.
5. Visiting Scholar, Lee Hysan Visiting Scholar, Universities Service Centre for China Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jan. 3-31, 2016.
6. Visiting Scholar, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne, Jul.-Aug. 2014.
7. Academic Visitor, Merton College & China Center, Oxford University, Sept.18-Oct. 3, 2013.
8. Visiting Scholar, Lee Hysan Visiting Scholar, Universities Service Centre for China Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jul.-Aug. 2008.

Course Offerings:

Spring Semester

• History of U.S.–China Relations, 1949–2025 (Seminar)
• Tyranny and Dignity: Chinese Women from the Cultural Revolution to the White Paper Protests (Lecture)

Autumn Semester

• Revolution Roulette: Life and Death in China under Mao (Lecture)
• Global Maoism: Past and Present ( Seminar)
• Fashion and Politics in 20th-Century China (Seminar)

Responsibilities

Selected Media Features and Interviews:

My research on contemporary China—its history, politics, and society—has been cited in international media. Recently, my academic profile was featured in Wong Chun Han’s 2023 book, Party of One: The Rise of Xi Jinping and China's Superpower Future (Simon & Schuster).

My work has appeared in some media outlets across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific, including:

• United States: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, NPR
• United Kingdom and Europe: The Economist, The Guardian, BBC, Reuters, Le Monde, La Repubblica
• Asia-Pacific and Latin America: South China Morning Post, The Star (Malaysia), Infoseek (Japan), Jornal GGN(Brazil)
• Canada and Australasia: Le Devoir, The Southland Times (New Zealand)
• Other regions: Additional national outlets in Netherland, Norway and beyond

I have also contributed to  podcast discussions, including NPR’s Here & Now, NPR's State of the World, and Democracy IRL, hosted by Stanford Professor Francis Fukuyama.

Between 2012 and 2014, following the publication of my first two books, my perspectives were featured in leading Chinese media, including:

• Print: Xinhua News Agency, China Comment, China Youth Daily, China Business News, Global Times, Jiefang Daily, Xinmin Evening News, Oriental Morning Post, Life Weekly, Southern Metropolis Daily, Yangcheng Evening News, Times Weekly
• Digital platforms: Tencent, Sina, Phoenix, Sohu, Consensus Net, and others

For a full list of interviews and media features, please see this compiled list.

Institutional Services:

1. Member, Cornell Humanities Council(2024-2026)
2. Core Faculty, Cornell East Asia Program(2022-present)
3. Faculty Affiliate, Cornell Institute for China Economic Research (2025–present)
4. Cornell Faculty Senator(2024-2026)
5. Member, Cornell Senate Nominations and Elections Committee(2024-2027)

In the news

• Cornell Center for Social Sciences names 2026-27 Faculty Fellows
• Politics gets personal for China scholar
• A&S honors 23 faculty with endowed professorships