Why I Give: Meihua Zhai

As a professional in Institutional Research (IR), I’ve always valued the “R” in IR.  Over the years, I have benefitted greatly from the volume of esteemed scholarly works by IHE faculty. IHE’s graduate students bring new knowledge and advance analytical skills to their positions after they graduate, as faculty members, institutional administrators or higher education researchers. 

 

When I was working in Georgia, I had the privilege to consult with Professors Robert Toutkoushian, Jim Hearn, and Karen Webber for some important projects requested by the top administrators around campus. IHE’s graduate students serving as interns in the IR office also contributed greatly with their fresh knowledge of research and their mastery of advanced analytics skills.

I support IHE and its graduate students, and I wish IHE another 55 years of success in advancing higher education policy, management, and leadership through research, graduate programs, and outreach!

Meihua Zhai is assistant vice president for Institutional Research at Wayne State University (WSU), where she leads a team of IR professionals in supporting the university’s mission to create and advance knowledge, prepare a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impact local and global communities. Prior to her appointment at WSU, she also held the positions as assistance vice chancellor in the Systems Office of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia; as director of institutional research and planning at University of Georgia, and as assistant vice president of IR at Kennesaw State University.