Qianyun Wang

Qianyun Wang is a third-year PhD student in Social Welfare at UCLA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Beijing Normal University and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Calgary. With extensive fieldwork experience across India, Korea, the Philippines, Canada, and China, she is committed to tackling social exclusion, ageism, racism, and migratory injustice through both research and community action. One of her research interests is to explore grief and bereavement experiences among Asian Americans, examining the unique challenges they face due to their immigration background and cultural or racial identity, particularly in relation to grief adjustment. Her work highlights the need for culturally appropriate services and community support. Qianyun’s research focuses on the intersection of aging and immigration, with a particular emphasis on the social and and psychological well-being of older immigrants. She believes deeply in the power of community based research and community involvement to address pressing social issues, especially health inequities that affect marginalized populations. Specifically, her own research program uses Photovoice, a community-based participatory method, to investigate grief and bereavement experiences among older Chinese immigrants. Through this approach, she seeks to empower older Chinese immigrants who may be “muted” in society due to their language barriers and cultural identity. Qianyun's goal is to make a tangible impact in the community by organizing a photography exhibition to raise awareness of mental health and combat ageism and racism directed at older Chinese immigrants. With community practice and research experience working with older immigrants in both Canada and the U.S., Qianyun is also keen on exploring non-drug mental health therapies to enhance the mental well-being of these communities. In her volunteer work at the Chinatown Service Center in Los Angeles, she assists low-income older immigrants with social services and housing.