07/14/2026
For Assistant Professor of Government Cheng Xu, scholarly inquiry and lived experience are deeply intertwined. As he puts it, “so much of what we research, what we choose to look at, is informed by our life experiences.” Before entering academia, Xu spent nearly a decade serving as an infantry officer and paratrooper in the Canadian Army. This background directly shapes his research on civil wars, insurgencies, and the complex dynamics of local peacebuilding.
➡ Tap the link to discover how Professor Xu's background shapes his teaching and research today: smith.edu/news-events/news/what-makes-peacebuilding-possible
06/30/2026
06/29/2026