Haowei Wang, an assistant professor of sociology at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been appointed as the Yang Ni and Xiaoqing Li Scholar in U.S.-China/Asia Relations for the 2025-26 academic year. Her appointment began on July 1.
Wang is the fifth faculty member from Maxwell to receive this recognition from the Yang Ni and Xiaoqing Li Endowment Fund, which was established in 2021 by Ni L’95 and Li G’96. The fund aims to foster connections between Maxwell faculty and scholars in China and Asia, supporting travel, research, and teaching endeavors in China.
Wang’s research delves into social determinants of healthy aging globally. She examines family network transformations, impacts of family relationships on well-being and caregiving in later life, as well as demographic shifts’ effects on health across lifespans.
Carol Faulkner, senior associate dean for academic affairs, remarked on Wang’s work: “Professor Wang’s important scholarship enhances Maxwell’s strategic emphasis on research in health and aging. This title is well-deserved given her focus on aging and family systems in China.”
Recently named a 2025-26 Association of Population Centers Fellow, Wang presented her research at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting in 2024. Her presentation was titled “The Experience of Child Bereavement Across the Life Course and Implications for Older Parents’ Psychological Well-being in China.”
At Maxwell, she is affiliated with several centers including the Center for Aging and Policy Studies. Her expertise covers social gerontology, family demography, aging, population health among other topics.
Ni earned a degree from the College of Law while Li graduated from the School of Information Studies.
