December 2025

Columbia professor and MIT lecturer to speak on December podcast

The “Let’s Talk U” podcast will welcome Columbia professor Li Feng in an episode this month, featuring the Early Chinese history and archaeology scholar. AAASE Junior Board West member Patrick Song will host the episode.

A glimpse into Professor Feng’s experiences includes field work as an Assistant Research Fellow in the Institute of Archaeology, spearheading Columbia’s first archaeological project in China and directing Columbia’s Tang Center for Early China.

The episode will cover his journey in Chinese archeology, advice from the industry, and key takeaways about his experiences. Patrick also hopes to gain insights about how the field is evolving with AI.

Another episode this month on the podcast will feature Erdin Beshimov, founder of MIT bootcamps. He is also known for launching MIT’s first massive open online courses on innovation and entrepreneurship, and co-founding MicroMasters. 

Board members Isaiah Gong and Hannah Zhang will explore his journey from growing up in Kyrgyzstan to becoming a global leader in entrepreneurial education and beyond.

Tutoring resurfaces for 2026

Junior board advisors and officers gave valuable tips to newer members about launching tutoring classes. Many classes at https://www.aaasejuniorwest.com/courses have been postponed but will have updated dates soon.

At the 12/6 junior board meeting, advisors led quick check-ins for each member’s class status. Tutors learned outreach tips, and some are considering lowering or waiving the class fees to reduce barriers for interested students.

Several students received specific feedback on how to proceed with starting the classes. Some upcoming topics in the near months include Chinese poetry, Latin, creative writing, and chemistry. Intro to French, Future Problem Solving, and AMC 8 classes have been postponed. 

With clearer timelines, more intentional marketing and a focus on accessibility, tutors and advisors are preparing for better community engagement and turnout. Families can expect quality interactive classes for each subject listed on the tutoring website, whether students are preparing for a competition or simply curious about a topic.