Alumni Spotlight: Weitian Yan

After finishing my PhD in 2022, I first did a postdoctoral fellowship at Syracuse University, which turned out to be a meaningful experience on both professional and personal levels. It gave me much-needed time to rethink my doctoral dissertation and find my own pedagogical approach. There I also met several kind colleagues who had previous connections with KU! Their mentorship and encouragement were especially important. In fall 2023, I began my position as an assistant professor in art history at Indiana University, Bloomington. Currently I am preparing a book manuscript on the antiquarian culture of eighteenth-century China.



KU's comprehensive training has deeply shaped my career path. Over the years as a graduate student, I not only gained teaching experience as an instructor of record, but I also learned about curatorial work through the internship program at Spencer Museum of Art. These opportunities have cultivated my passion for working with students, and engaging in object-based research.

There were quite a lot of them but I will limit myself to three. First, talk to your advisor often and seek their advice. My advisor (Amy McNair) has offered me important support and guidance throughout my graduate career. Second, keep applying for external fellowships, workshops, and conferences. They have helped me connect with professionals in the field and led me to unexpected opportunities. Third and most importantly, enjoy the process of working on your dissertation! It is one of the rare moments when one gets to focus solely on research.

Enjoy your time at KU (especially the libraries). Use writing as a way to develop your thoughts. Don't be shy. Keep showing up!