Speaker Series for the 2024-2025 School Year

Made possible through generous donations to the AISG Annual Fund , the Speaker Series is an exciting program that brings distinguished speakers from around the globe to AISG. Speakers share their compelling stories, aiming to inspire, enlighten, and transform the learning experience for our students and , whenever possible, our wider AISG community. We have had the honor of hosting experts from diverse fields such as the creative arts (drawing, writing, music, theater and performance art), athletics, Chinese cultural heritage, service, education, communication, and more.

The Speaker Series is one of the many unique offerings that sets AISG apart as the premier international school in Guangzhou, providing students with invaluable experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting.

2024-2025 Speakers

With this year's program already underway, AISG is thrilled to unveil this year's lineup of speakers!

College Counseling

September 11, 2024

Dr. Grace Cheng Dodge is an experienced school administrator, college counselor, and college admissions professional with specialized knowledge of the selective admissions process of colleges and universities in the United States. She is retired as Head of School of Taipei American School in Taiwan and was previously the Director of Admissions at Wellesley College, an Associate Director of Admissions at Harvard College, and has served on the faculty of the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions. During her visit to AISG last month, Grace gave a caregiver presentation on the current US admissions landscape, sharing insider information on how US colleges and universities select each freshman class, and how caregivers can partner with the school for their children's best fit college.

Cantonese Puppetry

October 16 & 23, 2024

Cui Keqing, the Artistic Director of the Guangdong Provincial Puppet Art Theater, is a distinguished figure in the world of puppet art. As a national first-class actor and recognized national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor, Cui brings over 40 years of expertise to his craft, earning prestigious awards such as the Outstanding Performance Award at the National Puppet and Shadow Show and the Best Actor Award at the Czech International Puppetry Festival. During his visit to AISG, Cui will provide students an immersive experience in Chinese puppetry, showcasing the art's history, diverse forms, and captivating performances, including an adaptation of "Sun Wukong Three Battles with the White Bone Demon" from the famous Chinese classic "Journey to the West."

DEI Workshop

November 13 - 15, 2024

Kristel Solomon, an International Educational Consultant, specializes in fostering high-quality, inclusive education and has collaborated with organizations like Next Frontier Inclusion (NFI) and International Schools Partnership (ISP). As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant, she focuses on facilitating workshops and developing programs to promote a culture of inclusion and belonging. During her visit, Kristel will lead diverse sessions on navigating difficult conversations about race, identity, and positionality, engage in workshops for students on racial and cultural identities and for caregivers on neurodiversity.

Writing

November 20 & 22, 2024

Erika Rosenberg is a renowned Argentinian journalist and writer with Jewish roots, born to German immigrants who fled Germany in 1935. She is the biographer of Oskar Schindler and his wife Emilie, and was very close to Emilie in Argentina in 1990, where she was exiled . Erika has traveled extensively across Europe, sharing stories of bravery and unity from those dark times through conferences, workshops, and speeches. Erika will visit AISG and engage the community with a series of stories and workshops. These will cover topics including Oskar and Emilie Schindler's stories and the "Schindler's List" movies, the ethical dimensions of a multicultural society, and social psychology training for teachers.

Innovation & Technology

January 9 - 11, 2025

Scott McLeod, JD, Ph.D., is a distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver and a leading authority on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation in education, dedicated to making students' daily learning experiences more engaging, meaningful, and relevant. With 4 books and 170 publications to his name, McLeod is one of the most influential and recognized education professors in the United States. He holds key positions, including Senior Fellow for Getting Smart, Fellow for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, ISTE Community Leader, InnEdCO Ambassador, and member of NAESP's Professional Learning Advisory Council. During Scott's visit, he will explore innovative teaching methods, latest technologies, and AI advancements with faculty and caregivers to empower student outcomes, furthering AISG's leadership in educational innovation.

Motivational Speaker

March 12 - 14, 2025

Russell Lehmann, an internationally renowned motivational speaker, author, poet, and activist, began facing developmental challenges at age three. Diagnosed with autism, Russell overcame significant hardships to become an influential advocate for autism awareness, mental health, and disabilities. He has delivered TEDx talks, contributed to Psychology Today, and serves on various national boards. During his visit to AISG, Russell will engage the community in several impactful sessions. He will lay out pragmatic approaches on how best we can understand, interact, and support those with invisible disabilities, and explore whether autism is a disability or superpower. His authentic and empowering presentations aim to foster greater empathy and inclusivity within the community.