Donna Liu Ashworth 劉秀敏 : School Principal

Donna Liu Ashworth 劉秀敏

School Principal

Donna was born in Taiwan and studied sociology in Tung Hai University before she moved to the US in 1986.  Taking care of her family has always been her priority in life. On top of teaching language classes, she also enjoys the coffee culture. She has been working for a coffee giant for quite some time.

  • 1992 - 1997 Taught Mandarin Chinese in Richmond Chinese School (RCS).
  • 1997 - 2002 Family relocated to HK, Donna earned two teaching certificates from Hong Kong University School of continuing education on subjects of Putonghua teaching and teaching Chinese as a second language. Donna was employed by Kumon educational Institute as a Chinese language teacher during the period of living in Hong Kong.
  • 2003 - 2014 After moving back from HK to the US, Donna continued to teach in RCS.
  • 2004 - 2008  Taught Mandarin Chinese to the engineering department at Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex corporation.
  • 2009 - Currently serving as a Mandarin interpreter for C&M Multilingual Inc.
  • 2014 - 2016 Relocated to Mainland China.
  • 2017 - 2021 Served as the principal of RCS.
  • 2021 - Served as the adult conversation class teacher
  • 2022 - Serves as the principal of RCS
d.ashworth.trcs@gmail.com
Jessica Luan 欒佳萍 : Preschool Class Teacher

Jessica Luan 欒佳萍

Preschool Class Teacher

Jiaping (Jessica) grew up in Taiwan and went to college in Taipei City. She came to the States in 2002 to go to Marshall University in West Virginia where she earned her Master of Business Administration degree. She moved to Richmond, Virginia for an employment opportunity in 2006 and has stayed since then.  Jessica commits to creating a comfortable and fun environment in her preschool classes in RCS. She believes that it will help boost her students interest in learning Chinese.

j.luan.trcs@gmail.com
Ed Frankhouser 范德沃 : Website Administrator

Ed Frankhouser 范德沃

Website Administrator

Ed is originally from Western Pennsylvania and moved to Richmond in 2014 for work. He has 25+ years as an engineer in telecom.   He has travelled abroad to Taiwan on two occasions and enjoys the culture. In addition to maintaining the school's website he looks forward to learning Mandarin.

RENÉE (REN) E. WARREN-MEBANE : Board Member

RENÉE (REN) E. WARREN-MEBANE

Board Member

Renée E. Warren-Mebane is an accomplished media executive and strategist with extensive Management, Production, Journalism and Writing experience.

Ms. Warren-Mebane is the president of Arielle-Wren, Inc. and co-founder of Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc. She has been able to incorporate all her passions; from real estate to producing to planning events to mentoring and teaching young minds -- she manages it all.

She is the co-author of You Buy the Peanut Butter, I’ll Get the Bread, The Absolutely True Adventures of Best Friends in Business and served as an Adjunct/Assistant Professor at New York University where she taught Social Media & Event Public Relations. She taught at NYU for more than a decade. Ms. Warren-Mebane has also lectured at Long Island University, Old Dominion University, Marymount Manhattan College, Norfolk State University, and many New York City high schools. And, is a licensed New York Real Estate Agent, REBNY© member and active at Weichert Properties SOHO.

She received a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and Master of Arts from Columbia University; completed Southern Illinois University’s post-graduate program in London analyzing the British media and a Certificate in Finance from New York Institute of Finance. She has received numerous awards and accolades including the Forty Under 40 Achievement Award and Old Dominion University Distinguished Alumni Award and in 2019 inducted in the school’s Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame

Phoebe Gur-Chiang : Board Member

Phoebe Gur-Chiang

Board Member

Dr. Phoebe Gur-Chiang earned a Bachelor of Agriculture degree at College of Chinese Culture, followed by a Master and a Doctor of Animal Science degree  at Michigan State University. She also earned a Registered Dietitian Certification at Wayne State University. In addition to her current clinical dietetic position at Farmville Dialysis Center, she has taught at Virginia State University and served at Hanover Health District.  Past job experience includes positions as Adjunct Professor, District Nutritionist, Mandrin and Culture Teacher, Principal and Chair. Currently, she is chair of the Richmond Chinese School Board and has a daughter who earned a Diploma of  Graduation from Richmond Chinese School.

 

Xiaobing Shuai :

Xiaobing Shuai

Xiaobing grew up in mainland China and attended Fudan University in Shanghai. After graduation he came to the United States to pursue graduate studies. He earned a master's and Ph.D. in the field of Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1999 Xiaobing moved to Richmond, VA and has been here ever since. He currently works  as a professional economist, and also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond.

Sarah Braggs : Parent Coordinator

Sarah Braggs

Parent Coordinator

Sarah Braggs is mother of 3 children.  Reece, Morgan and Michael Braggs.  Morgan Braggs is a second year member of the Richmond Chinese School.

Sarah is originally from North Carolina and came to Richmond Virginia in 2006.  She is proud to be a part of the school and chose it because of the small group learning.

"I'd want to make sure all doors stay open for my children.  Morgan enjoys learning Mandarin, and this is a great place to support and explore his interest.  I am proud to serve as Parent Coordinator for the Richmond Chinese School."

Rebecca Wu : Intermediate Teacher

Rebecca Wu

Intermediate Teacher

In 2020, as a Chinese language teacher at Richmond Chinese School,
the teenager students enjoy my interactive, creative and lively
teaching style. Through my creative and interesting teaching methods,
the students have learned a lot of Chinese listening, speaking, reading
and writing in a happy and creative environment. And let the students
in the Chinese listening, speaking, reading, writing has made great
progress.

Winny Chen 陳慧予 : Treasurer/Elementary I Class Teacher

Winny Chen 陳慧予

Treasurer/Elementary I Class Teacher

Winny previously taught the Adult Class in 2018-2020 for the RCS. In the last two years, Winny sometimes substitutes for the other classes. Winny is also the Treasurer for the RCS.

The Elementary I Class is very active and the students are very smart.  Winny enjoys the interactions with her students. By the end of the class, the students will know their Chinese names, numbers, culture and traditions, and many words in Pinyin and Chinese characters.