PROJECT: An art therapy program for older Chinese immigrants struggling with grief, in which they share photos and stories. Sessions would be led by mental health professionals culturally and linguistically aligned with participants.

Qianyun Wang, a third-year PhD student in social welfare at UCLA, began her academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Beijing Normal University, China, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Calgary, Canada. Her research focuses on the intersection of aging and immigration, with a particular emphasis on the social and psychological well-being of older immigrants.

Wang believes deeply in the power of community-based research and community involvement to address pressing social issues, especially health inequities that affect marginalized populations.

At UCLA, Wang has served as a graduate student researcher on projects including exploring the experiences of Filipino American essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and understanding the long-term services and supports needs of older adults and adults with disabilities in California. She has authored and co-authored various studies that have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, Frontiers in Public Health, and BMC Public Health.

As the 2024/2025 Tang Scholar awarded by the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, Wang is trained in non-drug mental health therapies, enhancing her capacity to improve the mental well-being of the Asian American community.

In her volunteer efforts at the Chinatown Service Center in Los Angeles, she provides support to low-income older immigrants, assisting them with social services and housing needs.