May H. Gao, Kennesaw State University

I teach Intercultural Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Group Communication, and Communication in Global Organizations at the department. I enjoy facilitating student learning, conducting research, and providing services for the department, the university, and the global community at large. My research interests include the globalization processes of Chinese and American corporations, intercultural learning and adaptation, and global occupational mobility

After earning my BA in English language and literature from Shanghai International Studies University in 1989, I became a TV anchorwoman for China Anhui Television Station, as well as a PR specialist in the University of Science and Technology of China. In 1998, I came to the U.S. and gained my MA in Mass Communication from Brigham Young University in 2000 and my Ph.D. in Speech Communication from the University of South Florida in 2004

I am currently conducting research with a multi-method approach on the operational strategies and communication obstacles in the process of global expansion of American and Chinese multinational corporations, including UPS, Home Depot, Duracell, the Sports Authority, Haier, Lenovo, and Huawei. Also, every summer, as the program director for the Study Abroad Program to China for the University System of Georgia, I take students from Georgia to China . The students usually come from Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta, Dalton State University, Valdosta State University, and other Georgian institutions. In summer 2007, we will be in China from May 29 to July 6 studying Chinese language, culture and intercultural communication for a total of nine credits, while visiting Beijing,Yangzhou, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Suzhou, and Shanghai. For more information, please check out this website at http://www.kennesaw.edu/globalinstitute/china.htm. I am also the Coordinator of the Asian Studies program at Kennesaw State University.

In my leisure time, I enjoy traveling around the world with my family.