Dr. Jason Lau 刘艺峰
School PrincipalDr. Jason Lau is a dedicated educator and instructional leader with over 15 years of experience teaching mathematics in Virginia public schools. He currently teaches high school math full-time in Henrico County, where he also serves as a department leader and a mentor to fellow educators. Dr. Lau holds a Doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from Virginia State University, with a focus on professional development and effective teaching practices.
Dr. Lau’s leadership extends beyond the classroom. He has served as a board member of the Richmond Chinese School, a Cub Scouts den leader, and a community event organizer. His passion for education is matched by his dedication to fostering inclusive spaces where students and families feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Dr. Lau lives in Chesterfield with his wife, Elizabeth (Liza), who is also an educator. The two met while teaching together and continue to share a love for learning and service. They are proud parents to Matthew (8) and Maggie (5), whose curiosity and energy inspire Dr. Lau’s work every day. Both Dr. Lau and his wife have a passion for serving the community and its children. As such they have recently expanded their family to include two additional children, Ava (15) and Xander (13), to whom they are legal guardians.
Jowai Chen 陳周艾
Board Member / Kindergarten (5-6) TeacherMs. Jowai Chen is a dedicated educator with more than 10 years of teaching experience in Taiwan. After moving to the United States, she’s taught the Basic Chinese class at Richmond Chinese School for six years.
With a strong background in education, Ms. Chen is passionate about helping students grow in both language learning and cultural understanding. She remains committed to creating meaningful learning experiences that connect children with the richness of Chinese language and culture.
Susan Chen 陈淑惠
Preschool Class TeacherSusan Chen is a native Mandarin speaker from Zhanghua, Taiwan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy from Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo and a minor in Child Psychology. Her passion is teaching, especially teaching the Chinese language to children.
Ms. Chen has more than 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience. She taught private Portuguese language classes to elementary and middle school Chinese-speaking students when she was a university student in Brazil. She worked at “Escola de Educação Infantil Happy Kids” in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after she graduated from university.
After she moved to the US, Ms. Chen had an opportunity to teach Mandarin in preschool and Chinese language enrichment classes at Westwood Christian School, and private Mandarin classes to young kids, elementary, middle school, and tutorials to adult students in Miami, Florida.
Ms. Chen moved from Miami to Virginia with her husband. She taught Chinese language immersion preschool at Communikids and Richmond Chinese School until she had her first child. In 2024, Ms. Chen returned to Richmond Chinese School, where she teaches the Preschool Class. Ms. Chen loves to teach and play with children, and she teaches small-group Chinese Immersion Preschool Program classes on weekdays, as well as private Chinese Tutorial Classes. Ms. Chen spends her free time doing outdoor activities and taking trips with her husband and two sons.
Donna Ashworth 劉秀敏
Chair of Board / TeacherChairwoman, Principal Emeritus / 光華中文學校
Donna Ashworth brings a deep commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture in the community. With a passion for education and cultural exchange, she works closely with the school’s leadership, teachers, and families to create an enriching learning environment for students of all ages. Under her guidance, the school continues to strengthen its programs, expand cultural activities, and foster a welcoming space where heritage and learning thrive. Donna’s leadership reflects her belief that language is a bridge that connects generations, communities, and cultures.
Adult Chinese Conversation Class Teacher
Donna Ashworth teaches the Adult Chinese Conversation Class at Richmond Chinese School, where she helps learners gain confidence in speaking Mandarin in practical, everyday situations. Her teaching style is interactive, encouraging, and tailored to the needs of adult students, blending language skills with cultural insights. Donna creates a supportive classroom environment where students feel comfortable practicing, making mistakes, and improving together. She believes that learning a language should be both useful and enjoyable, and she is dedicated to helping her students connect with Chinese culture through meaningful communication.
Winny Chen 陳慧予
TreasurerWinny Chen is a dedicated member of the Richmond Chinese School community, serving as both a Board Member and Treasurer since 2020.
She previously taught an adult class from 2018 to 2020 and has most recently been teaching an elementary class for the past two years.
Winny demonstrates a commitment to the entire school community through her work in the classroom, her administrative role, and her willingness to support the school’s needs wherever they arise.
Renée E. Warren-Mebane (Ren) 王美芮
Board MemberRenée E. Warren-Mebane, affectionately known as REN, is a lifelong advocate for education and a mentor to many. Her journey with the Richmond Chinese School (RCS) began in 2022, inspired by her daughter’s love of the Chinese language and culture. With languages and Mandarin study at the heart of her family, REN quickly recognized the extraordinary value of RCS—not just as a school, but as a community where language, culture, and heritage come alive. She believes passionately in its mission and is committed to helping the school grow, thrive, and change lives for generations to come.
REN lives by the motto: “Do what you love and love what you do,” pouring that spirit into her work and family life. As co-founder of Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc. and president of Arielle-Wren, Inc., she has produced major national and international events, commercials, and conferences, while also succeeding in real estate. Her career includes roles at CNBC, Dow Jones, WTKR-TV (CBS), The Daily Press, and The Virginian-Pilot, and she is co-author of You Buy the Peanut Butter, I’ll Get the Bread: The Absolutely True Adventures of Best Friends in Business. A dedicated educator, she spent over a decade teaching social media and event PR at NYU and has lectured at several universities. REN holds degrees from Old Dominion and Columbia, studied British media in London, and earned a Certificate in Finance from the New York Institute of Finance. Honored with awards including Forty Under 40 and the ODU Distinguished Alumni Award, she now divides her time between New York and Virginia with her husband and daughter—enjoying travel, teaching, cooking, and keeping Chinese language and culture at the heart of family life.
Lizhen Dodd
Board MemberLizhen Dodd graduated from Yunnan Normal University in China and earned a Master of Science in Accounting in the United States. She worked at a church preschool for two years in Richmond, also volunteered at Grace Chinese Baptism Church Sunday school for two years, where she developed a passion for supporting young children and their education. As a board member of Richmond Chinese School, Lizhen is dedicated to promoting Chinese language and culture while helping create a welcoming and enriching environment for students and families.
Ming Marini
TeacherMing holds a Doctorate degree in Media & Literature (East China Normal University, China), a Master’s degree in Advertising and Marketing (University of Leeds, U.K.), a Master’s degree in Journalism Studies (Cardiff University, U.K.), and a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature (Xiamen University, China). Her previous career was divided between working as a reporter, editor, and columnist for news media for four years and later as an academic researcher and university lecturer for more than 18 years. Ming specialized in media and film studies and is a firm believer that language and culture enrich our lives.