About Me

My name is Sander Capetz and I am a fourth-year Eminence Fellow at The Ohio State University. I am pursuing a double major in Chinese and economics, with a minor in mathematics.

My interests in China, international relations, economics, mathematics, and technology are all areas I am exploring while at Ohio State in order to investigate the wide-ranging effects of our globally interdependent world. I am currently working on my honors thesis with Dr. Ian Sheldon, Ohio State’s Andersons Chair of Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy. I am researching China’s trade relationship with the world as well as the economic challenges and opportunities China faces with its ‘Made in China 2025’ policy and Belt and Road Initiative. In particular, I will be investigating ways the US can influence trade policy in the Asia-Pacific region at a time when China is a leading world trade entity. I am utilizing R programming for statistical computing and data visualizations to support my research.

On an international level, I was scheduled to study in China the past three summers, but the pandemic has put a pause in my plans. To fill the summer gaps, I have participated in multiple intensive Chinese language programs as well as completed a China-focused independent study project with Dr. Xiaobin Jian, a professor in Ohio State’s Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (DEALL). My research centered on China’s ancient Silk Road and how Buddhism transformed China’s beliefs, arts, and literature. I was selected to present my research at DEALL’s undergraduate research forum, which included participation with facility, students, and the public in a virtual forum.

I am also involved in Cultivate Columbus, a community service project created together with my Eminence Fellow cohort. Our project is aimed at developing community gardens to promote healthy eating, food security, and sustainable practices in Columbus and neighboring vicinities.

I have always enjoyed learning about and experiencing new places and meeting new people. I was born in New York City and spent my elementary school years in New Jersey before calling Kent, Ohio home. I have worked with immigrants and refugees at the International Institute of Akron, where I helped address the challenges of language barriers and new cultural customs. I am able to continue helping immigrants and refugees at CRIS where I tutor/teach citizenship test preparation. Such experiences have made me more aware of new challenges and situations I will encounter when I am able to study abroad.

By having the opportunity to research China – both its history and its current economic and political landscape – while honing my Chinese language abilities will allow me to improve my communication skills, my cross-cultural awareness, and my knowledge of this growing world power. By attaining these goals, I will be able to demonstrate my educational acumen for graduate school as well as strengthen my professional assets for future employment with organizations that have connections to China.

 

 

 

Year in Review (2020-2021 Academic Year)

Despite the challenges of taking classes during a pandemic, my sophomore year proved to be both rigorous and rewarding. I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone by taking a variety of classes that introduced subjects I found to be equally intriguing and engaging. In the process, I was able to solidify my areas of interest and further explore my passion for China, economics, international relations, mathematics, and technology. I also committed to my academic path by declaring a double major in Chinese and economics, with a minor in mathematics.

 

I had planned to study in China this summer (as well as the previous summer), but the pandemic has put these plans on hold. I am very excited to embark on my first trip abroad and to be able to accelerate my Chinese language abilities as well as my understanding of Chinese society and culture in real-life settings with native speakers. I look forward to the future when I can fulfill these experiences. Being awarded the Wolfe Study Abroad Scholarship will help support both my professional and personal pursuits in China, which I will have the opportunity to utilize at a future date.

 

Regarding my upcoming summer plans, I was recently admitted into Princeton University’s intensive summer Chinese language program, Princeton in Beijing, which will afford me the opportunity to advance my Chinese language skills in a rigorous 8-week course (remotely, due to the pandemic). Moreover, I am working on my honors thesis with Dr. Ian Sheldon, Ohio State’s Andersons Chair of Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy. I am researching China’s trade relationship with the world as well as the economic challenges and opportunities China faces with its ‘Made in China 2025’ and Belt and Road initiatives. In particular, I will be investigating ways the US can influence trade policy in the Asia-Pacific region at a time when China is a leading world trade entity.

 

In addition, I was selected to present my independent research paper on Buddhism in China to the Ohio State’s Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures Undergraduate Research Forum on April 16th. The forum included participation with facility, students, and the public in a virtual platform. I also served this academic year as a representative for Ohio State’s Global Leadership Initiative, a cohort of international and domestic students working to promote global citizenship and diversity inclusiveness on campus and within communities throughout the Columbus area.

 

Finally, I am working with my Eminence Fellow cohort to develop our community service project, Cultivate Columbus, which will benefit the Columbus community by promoting sustainable practices, healthy eating, and food security. I look forward to continuing to make connections, to exchange knowledge and ideas, and to challenge myself in an effort to gain a deeper understanding and awareness of what has become an increasingly interdependent world.

 

G.O.A.L.S.

The Honors and Scholars G.O.A.L.S. (Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development and Service Engagement) are a key focus of Ohio State’s honors program. As I navigate my second year, I am thinking about how each of these areas will enhance my education. In my pursuit of fulfilling each of these areas as a student double majoring in Chinese and economics, with a minor in mathematics, here are my thoughts:

 

Global Awareness: Although I was unable to study in China this past summer due to the pandemic, I am looking forward to future international experiences in what will be a new and safer post-COVID world. Ohio State’s Office of International Affairs offers many interesting programs which I plan to pursue. Studying in China will give me a first-hand, in-country perspective, allowing me to not only improve my Chinese language skills but also foster understanding through cross-cultural communication.

 

Original Inquiry: I hope to conduct research with faculty mentors as well as complete an honors thesis. An area of interest that I am currently exploring for my honors thesis involves China’s trade relationship with the world, in particular with the U.S. and the Belt and Road Initiative host countries.

 

Academic Enrichment: I am working towards completing a double major with a minor through the honors program, which involves rigorous courses each semester that will both engage and challenge me. I also think it is important to explore learning opportunities outside the classroom, and I have attended conferences and lectures (both in-person and virtually) through such organizations as the Columbus Council on World Affairs.

 

Leadership Development: I was selected to be a representative for Ohio State’s Global Leadership Initiative (GLI) – a cohort of international and domestic students working to promote global citizenship and diversity inclusiveness both on campus and within communities throughout the Columbus area. I hold a leadership role in GLI’s educational outreach initiative centered on bringing notable authors and students together in a virtual classroom setting to discuss important issues of diversity and inclusion, culture and religion, and immigration. I strive to be a leader not only in university organizations but also in the classroom as well as in outside organizations.

 

Service Engagement: As a second-year Eminence Fellow, I am actively participating in our Cultivate Columbus community gardens service project that promotes sustainable practices, healthy eating, and food security in Columbus. I, along with several members of my Eminence Fellow cohort, designed the Cultivate Columbus website that not only showcases our Eminence service project but also gives people the opportunity to participate, connect, and share.