Latest news with #KevinWang
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Retailers Are Using AI And Emotion To Build Loyalty In 2025
Artificial Intelligence Customer loyalty isn't something retailers can take for granted in today's crowded marketplace. It's something they have to earn and re-earn through ongoing, meaningful engagement. And changing consumer behavior is only adding to the complexity. Shoppers today no longer think solely in terms of 'online' or 'in-store.' According to VML's Future Shopper 2024 report, 61% of shoppers globally want seamless communications across sales channels, with their journey documented and data following them the whole time – up five percent from just one year prior. They expect what is often called a 'phygital' experience: a seamless journey that spans digital and physical channels, where retailers can adjust to customer preferences, life events, and life stages in real time. To meet these rising expectations, retailers are reimagining loyalty as not a points system or occasional reward, but an ongoing relationship. A recent report from Braze, the 2025 Global Customer Engagement Review (CER), explores the ways leading brands are stepping up to meet the moment by rethinking how they engage and retain their audiences. According to the report, leading retailers break away from a one-size-fits-all approach by blending together AI-powered personalization, emotional resonance, and experimentation. These retailers are treating loyalty not as a fixed outcome, but as a continuous conversation – one that is shaped at every touch point, treating it both as an art and a science. AI is powering the next generation of retail engagement It's no secret that AI is now a key driving force behind the next generation of retail experiences. Retailers already use it to analyze sentiment, predict behavior, and personalize at scale, with leading brands being 39% more likely to use AI to adjust messages based on real-time interactions. As AI becomes more embedded in workflows, it's not just about automating tasks, but also unlocking new levels of impact. Braze Chief Product Officer, Kevin Wang, shared 'the real magic of AI is in helping marketers operate with greater efficiency and creativity. It allows teams to deliver personalized experiences in the moment faster and more seamlessly than ever before, while driving meaningful business results.' But with great power comes greater responsibility. As AI and data driven strategies advance, so does the need for transparent, consent driven data practices. According to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 58.5% of consumers are either extremely or very concerned about AI using their data, signaling a growing public unease that can't be brushed aside. In response, retailers are increasingly cautious about how customer data is used and shared. Prosper - How Concerned are You About Privacy Being Violated From AI Using Your Data More notably, Braze's 2025 Retail CER shows that internal data sharing now outweighs legal or regulatory worries among surveyed marketing executives, suggesting that today's retailers are motivated not just by compliance, but by a deeper commitment to doing right by their customers. The future of AI-powered retail engagement depends not only on smarter technology, but also on how thoughtfully it's applied, in addition to how well it sustains consumer trust. As marketers unlock new levels of capability, the next challenge is ensuring those interactions feel authentic, and emotionally resonant. Leaning on technology to drive emotional connection Beyond efficiency and seamless journeys, retailers that are doing this well today are leaning into technology to listen to their customers' digital body language, delivering messages that resonate in the moment and create emotional connections, not just transactions. Braze data found that brands that are emotionally connecting with their customers are the ones who are more likely to exceed their revenue goals. Moreover, top leaders show a strong willingness to course-correct when messaging misses the mark. According to Prosper Insights & Analytics, 73.3% of shoppers prefer to speak with a live person while making online purchases. This highlights that technology should enhance, not replace, the human element of engagement. Prosper - Prefer To Communicate With Live Person or AI Chat Program for Online Shopping Technology allows brands to reach customers one-on-one, but without great content, those connections fall flat. If the endgame is enduring relationships with customers, a focus on customer retention and the relative cost of customer acquisition makes perfect sense. But what does that mean in practice? It means using customer data more efficiently, leaning on technology to enhance, not replace human connection, and embracing a culture of experimentation to continuously improve. In fact, Braze data shows that 93% of retailers rely on technology to add emotional resonance to their messaging, whether through personalized channel preferences, milestone triggered messages, or community based campaigns. A strong example of this can be seen when looking at e.l.f. Cosmetics, a brand under e.l.f. Beauty. The company partnered with Braze and Stitch to revamp its digital engagement strategy and loyalty program. By expanding into channels like SMS and push notifications, the company saw a 125% increase in monthly mobile app usage (over six months) and stronger customer connections. This demonstrates how creative, cross-channel messaging can drive both emotional resonance and measurable results. Culture of experimentation separates leaders from the less agile Leading retailers share a common trait: they work collaboratively and prioritize frequent experimentation. There is no doubt that the most successful teams are agile, cross-functional, and committed to refining engagement strategies to uncover valuable customer insights. These efforts go beyond marketing alone. 'The most forward-thinking retailers treat experimentation as a team sport. When marketing, data, and engineering come together around a shared goal, that's when real innovation and customer understanding happens,' shared Wang. Top brands are bringing in analytics, engineering, and other teams to build a more robust and dynamic understanding of their customers. Still, there's room for growth. While many retailers have embraced experimentation, too few are breaking down internal barriers. This lack of shared ownership creates gaps that could be closed through stronger communication and alignment. Ultimately, retailers that foster a culture of testing and collaboration are far better positioned to meet changing customer expectations and lead with greater agility. Winning Loyalty is an Ongoing Conversation Loyalty isn't a one-and-done achievement; it's a continuous dialogue between brands and their customers. To win loyalty, retailers must listen closely and evolve with each interaction. AI and emotional resonance give retailers the tools to do this at scale, but it's the commitment to transparency, experimentation and human connection that sets leaders apart. The retailers who will thrive in 2025 and beyond will be those who lean into their customers' digital body language, and treat engagement as a relationship to be nurtured, not a transaction to be optimized.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Firing of Chinese asylum seeker under SB 846 raises alarm in Florida and beyond
New College of Florida's recent firing of a Chinese professor under a contentious state law has drawn national attention and raised fresh concerns about academic freedom, xenophobia and the direction of higher education in Florida. Professor Kevin Wang, a Chinese asylum seeker with work authorization in the United States, was abruptly dismissed last month under a 2023 state law known as SB 846 that restricts Florida's public colleges and universities from hiring staff from China and other nations labeled 'countries of concern.' According to civil rights advocates and scholars, this appears to be the first time an asylum seeker has been removed from their position under the law. The firing comes amid heightened U.S.–China tensions and growing scrutiny of Chinese nationals in American academic institutions. But for students and observers of higher education, it signals something more immediate: a state-driven shift that may limit who can teach in public universities, threatening US scholarship. 'We see this trend, and a pattern of a less and less welcoming environment for Chinese students and international students overall,' said Gisela Kusakawa, the executive director of Asian American Scholar Forum. Many Asian American scholars 'came to the United States through the student visa pipeline, and so when we're talking about maintaining US competitiveness and being able to foster and nurture the best and brightest talents, cutting off this pipeline would effectively make the United States less competitive.' Signed into law less than two years ago, SB 846 limits public colleges and universities in Florida from entering into agreements with institutions affiliated with the governments of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela. It also goes a step further, restricting the ability of schools to simply hire employees from those countries who do not have a green card or full citizenship. 'Florida is taking action to stand against the United States' greatest geopolitical threat — the Chinese Communist Party,' Gov. Ron DeSantis said when he signed the bill into law. The law went into effect July 1, 2023, and is codified in Section 288.860 of the Florida Statutes. It includes a mechanism for exceptions, but only if such hires or partnerships are approved by the State University System's Board of Governors. Upon its passage, critics of the law focused on its impact on graduate students, who conduct research at Florida's universities. SB 846 has a disproportionate impact on Chinese academics. According to the Institute of International Education's recent annual Open Doors Report, more than 4,300 students from China were enrolled in Florida colleges and universities during the 2023–24 academic year, the second-largest group of international students in the state after those from India. The fifth-largest group of international students also hail from a so-called country of concern — Venezuela. Some 1,300 students from the South American nation studied in Florida last year, according to the report. Altogether, the Florida university system last year educated nearly 45,000 international students who pumped an estimated $1.5 billion into the state economy, the report noted. Wang's firing has become a flash point in a broader legal and civil rights battle over Florida's restrictions on hiring foreign nationals in public higher education. 'The unconstitutional Florida law named in the firing of this Chinese professor at New College of Florida codifies anti-Asian discrimination,' the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said in a recent Facebook post. 'It's why we're fighting it in court.' The ACLU of Florida is part of the legal team representing a University of Florida professor and two Chinese doctoral students who had been accepted to study and work at Florida International University in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of SB 846. The plaintiffs argue the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and is preempted by federal immigration and foreign affairs law. They likened the law to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States during a period of widespread anti-Chinese sentiment. On March 27 — just two weeks after Wang's firing — a federal judge in Miami issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking enforcement of the law's hiring restrictions as they apply to international students. The preliminary injunction applies to students statewide. Florida has since appealed that injunction and filed a motion to put the judge's ruling on hold. While the ruling specifically addressed international students, it may lay the groundwork for further legal challenges from faculty members. In an email to Suncoast Searchlight, Daniel Tilley, legal director of the ACLU of Florida and one of the attorneys in the case, said that professors like Wang 'should have a similarly strong claim.' While Florida's law has been on the books since mid-2023, Wang's dismissal appears to be the first publicly known case in which it was used to terminate an asylum-seeking professor. It also comes amid broader national efforts to detect foreign influence and espionage in U.S. research institutions — particularly from China. During the first Trump administration, the federal government launched the 'China Initiative,' a program intended to root out economic espionage but one that drew criticism for disproportionately targeting Asian American and Chinese scholars, often without clear evidence. Civil rights watchdogs warned that the initiative could fuel anti-Asian prejudice. In at least one case, federal officials wrongly accused a Chinese-born scientist of espionage. Other scholars left the U.S., citing an atmosphere of fear and discrimination. In one prominent case, a Florida researcher moved back to China, where he spearheaded the development of a rapid COVID-19 test. The policy was lifted in 2022, but a new push by House Republicans to block Chinese nationals from studying at U.S. universities signals renewed hostility toward academics from China. The crackdown on perceived foreign influence has been felt especially acutely in Florida, where state lawmakers also passed a measure in 2023 restricting Chinese citizens from purchasing property in the state. The measure, which is the subject of ongoing litigation, mirrors land and property ownership bans proposed by GOP-controlled statehouses across the country. 'Right now there's a bigger concern that what is happening in Florida is just sort of a taste of what may happen nationally on a federal level,' said Kusakawa, of the Asian American Scholar forum. Wang's firing drew surprise and condemnation. Rosie Levine, executive director of the US-China Education Trust, a Washington DC-based group focused on fostering academic exchange between the two countries, expressed alarm, describing the firing as 'scary.' 'Academics, for the most part, just really want to comply but aren't clear about how the regulations work,' Levine said, noting that it's 'extremely terrifying for their professors who are probably in similar situations, like this example, and saying, 'I don't want to be in the same position, but I don't know how to comply.'' Kusakawa, of the Asian American Scholar Forum, noted the irony in Wang's firing, given his open criticism of the Chinese government. 'Here you have someone that is anti-CCP vocally, to their detriment,' said Kusakawa, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. In the United States, she added, Wang 'should be getting sanctuary.' A student in Wang's class at New College told Suncoast Searchlight that the dismissal felt abrupt and wrong. 'It was barbaric,' said the student, who asked to remain anonymous, citing fear of reprisal from the college, which has a precedent of cracking down on student dissent. In 2024, the school punished students who protested its administration during graduation. 'You could say the feeling is grief, or something like that,' the student said. 'I mean, first you're shocked, and then you get angry, then sad and everything. At this point, it's been a couple of weeks, and I'm just moving on. I've accepted it.' This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more at
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CodeSecure and FOSSA Partner to Deliver Single Integrated Platform for Binary and Open Source Analysis
Consolidated capabilities enable customers to create comprehensive software bill of materials and eliminate security blindspots across the software development lifecycle BETHESDA, Md., April 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CodeSecure, a leading global provider of application security testing (AST) solutions, and FOSSA, the complete software supply chain platform, today announced a strategic partnership and native product integration that enables organizations to eliminate security blindspots associated with both third party and open source code. The partnership combines CodeSecure's CodeSentry Binary Composition Analysis (BCA) capabilities within FOSSA's advanced software supply chain analysis and SBOM management platform. This single integrated solution provides continuous visibility for proactively detecting and mitigating software security vulnerabilities and compliance violations at every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). The CodeSentry-FOSSA integration allows App Developers and DevSecOps teams to generate comprehensive SBOMs that account for both open source and binaries contained in their software builds—providing comprehensive transparency into vulnerabilities, dependencies, and compliance violations. By identifying vulnerabilities during the development phase—when they are easier and more cost-effective to remediate—this integrated platform reduces risk and accelerates secure software delivery. Open-source software and third-party software components—including libraries, add-ons, drivers, operating system components, and networking code—present unique security challenges. While open source analysis tools are effective for scanning vulnerabilities in accessible source code files, many third-party and infrastructure components are distributed as precompiled binaries. These binaries require specialized BCA to accurately identify embedded vulnerabilities, dependencies, and potential risks. The FOSSA platform with BCA provides unified scanning, which is required to achieve comprehensive software security coverage. "Modern software applications are constantly growing in complexity and composed of components that developers might not fully control or even see," said Mike Dager, CEO of CodeSecure. "Our partnership with FOSSA creates a single, cohesive platform that ensures comprehensive visibility into both open source and binary code, allowing teams to confidently manage their software supply chains from development through deployment." "Customers expect seamless security insights across the entire software supply chain, including first-party code, open source components, and binaries," said Kevin Wang, CEO of FOSSA. "Integrating CodeSecure's market leading binary analysis capabilities into the FOSSA platform allows our customers to comprehensively inventory and secure their software—eliminating critical blindspots and enhancing their security posture." The FOSSA platform, pre-integrated with CodeSecure CodeSentry, addresses the following DevSecOps needs: Comprehensive SBOM Generation: Consolidates insights from both source and binary code analysis to produce accurate, complete software inventories. Early Vulnerability Detection and Remediation: Identifies and helps mitigate vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle, reducing complexity and cost. Unified Security and Compliance Management: Provides a single source for maintaining software licensing compliance and securing third-party dependencies. AvailabilityThe FOSSA platform, pre-integrated with CodeSecure's BCA, is available immediately. For pricing and to request a demo visit About CodeSecureCodeSecure is a leading global provider of application security testing (AST) solutions used by the world's most security conscious organizations to detect, measure, analyze and resolve vulnerabilities for software they develop or use. CodeSecure products enable rapid DevSecOps deployments while also securing their software supply chains. CodeSecure has corporate headquarters in Bethesda MD and publishes TalkSecure, an educational resource for product software developers. Visit us at and follow us on LinkedIn and X. CodeSonar® and CodeSentry® are registered trademarks of CodeSecure, Inc. About FOSSAFOSSA is a leading software supply chain platform that automates security and compliance across first-party code, third-party suppliers (binaries and SBOMs), and developer tools. The FOSSA platform empowers companies to identify, prioritize, and remediate their real vulnerabilities, while also automating reporting and SBOM generation to meet customer and regulatory requirements. Founded in 2015, FOSSA is trusted by thousands of global organizations, has been downloaded millions of times, and has conducted more than 100 million software scans. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Marc GendronMarc Gendron PR for CodeSecure617.877.7480marc@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New College fires Chinese professor under controversial Florida ‘countries of concern' law
A New College of Florida professor was abruptly fired this month under a controversial state law that limits public universities from employing people from so-called 'countries of concern,' including China, Cuba, Iran, Russia and Venezuela. Kevin Wang, a Chinese academic who is seeking asylum and authorized to work in the United States, had been teaching Chinese language and culture classes at the small liberal arts college in Sarasota for nearly two years when, on March 12, the school terminated his contract, citing a university regulation based on that law, known as SB 846. His letter of dismissal, which was reviewed by Suncoast Searchlight, stated that the school's decision to cancel his contract as an adjunct professor was 'not based on any misconduct and does not constitute a dismissal for cause or disciplinary action.' Instead, it claimed, Wang's immigration status – and, implicitly, his country of origin – made him ineligible for employment at New College. His sudden ouster has sparked outrage among his students and raises questions about academic freedom as Florida's crackdown on foreign influence plays out on campuses across the state. The school also has not shied from bringing far-right figures to campus, hosting President Donald Trump's 'border czar' Tom Homan for a roundtable talk that drew protests on March 20. It also marks the latest flashpoint at New College, a liberal arts school once known for its progressive student body that has become a high-profile ideological battleground after Gov. Ron DeSantis overhauled its leadership, installing political allies on the board of trustees and appointing former Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran as president. Since the takeover, the college has drawn national scrutiny for dismantling its diversity office, discarding books, and implementing a new athletics program – a dramatic shift in identity that continues to ripple through campus life. For Wang, his firing carried echoes of the political repression he fled in China, he told Suncoast Searchlight during an interview this week on campus. He also shared a letter that further elaborated his thoughts on the matter. 'Before coming to the United States in May 2022, I was a university professor in China,' Wang wrote in his letter for Suncoast Searchlight. 'I faced political repression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for criticizing Xi Jinping and the CCP's domestic and foreign policies, resulting in the loss of my teaching position and my freedom to teach, research, and express myself in China. 'I never expected to face such a distressing experience after escaping persecution from the CCP in China, only to encounter a somewhat similar situation' at New College in the United States. Wang asked Suncoast Searchlight to refer to him by his English name only due to fear of reprisals from the Chinese government. The New College attorney who signed Wang's letter of dismissal did not respond to a request for comment. The Florida Board of Governors and the Florida Department of Education did not respond to a question about whether SB 846 applies to asylum-seekers from 'countries of concern.' The law, which went into effect on July 1, 2023 – three weeks before Wang was first offered a job at New College – states that schools 'may not accept any grant from or participate in any agreement with any college or university based in a foreign country of concern' without the express approval of the Board of Governors. It also restricts state colleges and universities from entering into partnerships with 'foreign principals' – meaning foreign government officials from those countries, but also '[a]ny person who is domiciled in a foreign country of concern and is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.' After SB 846 passed, the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees public colleges and universities in the state, followed up with its own guidance defining 'domicile' as 'a physical presence in a foreign country of concern with an intent to return thereto' and further defining 'intent' as being demonstrated by 'an absence of seeking citizenship in the United States.' Wang is the only asylum seeker identified by Suncoast Searchlight who has been targeted by the law. 'This is the first case I've heard of this,' said Helena Tetzeli, a Miami-based immigration lawyer. Tetzeli said that while Wang's firing may have been in compliance with SB 846, the Florida law itself could conflict with anti-discrimination provisions in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Whether Wang was fired improperly, Tetzeli said, 'really depends on whether or not this law [is] ultimately found to be unconstitutional.' The law was met with outrage across state public universities as students and faculty denounced the legislation as discriminatory. The University of Florida Student Senate passed a resolution in February 2024 condemning the measure for its impact on international graduate students who typically work as research or teaching assistants while pursuing their doctoral degrees. The resolution called these students 'integral to academic and scientific advancement.' A month later, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance filed a lawsuit on behalf of a University of Florida professor and two Chinese students at Florida International University, arguing that SB 846 violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and contradicts federal employment and immigration laws. Plaintiffs in the suit compared Florida's law to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S. during a period of widespread anti-Chinese racism. It is unclear how many other academics have been fired since the passage of SB 846 – or how the law, which limits the pool of applicants for research positions in the Florida school system, has impacted academic brain drain from the state. Zhengfei Guan, an agricultural economist and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, argued that the law's passage has made it harder for him to recruit and hire high-quality researchers and postdoctoral fellows. In a statement, Gisela Kusakawa, the executive director of Asian American Scholar Forum wrote that the law 'creates an hostile atmosphere that prospective students and faculty will want to avoid. In February, a federal magistrate judge recommended that U.S. District Court Judge Jose Martinez issue an injunction to temporarily suspend the law's enforcement. Martinez has not yet acted on this. Early on the morning of March 10, before New College's bayfront campus stirred to life with the bustle of students, Wang sent what seemed like a routine administrative email. He had not been receiving paychecks at all this semester, he wrote to his department chair. And he wondered when the situation would be resolved or if there was anything he could do to facilitate. He ended the email with a customary 'thank you' and 'have a nice week,' and hoped for a quick fix. But Wang's message set off a chain of internal correspondence that would end, just two days later, with his firing – and with no opportunity to say goodbye to his students, according to an interview with Wang and a trove of emails Suncoast Searchlight obtained through a public records request to the school. 'Oh, heavens! We will get this fixed,' replied Maribeth Clark, the chair of the Humanities Division, about an hour and a half later. Clark, apparently realizing what happened, sent an email to the provost, David Rohrbacher, apologizing for having forgotten to submit an employment agreement form for Wang at the start of the semester in January. 'We tried something different this year with an offer letter for adjuncts that covered the whole year,' she wrote. 'Then, in January, we realized that we needed to create EAFs for each semester. We just missed this one.' Just before noon, Wang received an email from Erin Fisher, associate vice president of Human Resources, Digital Learning and Dual Enrollment. 'In going through our records, a question came up on your file,' Fisher wrote. 'Do you have documentation of lawful permanent resident status? If so, please provide to us by close of business today.' Wang replied that afternoon that he had already submitted documentation of his work authorization. 'When I applied for this position, I only required valid work authorization in the U.S. My immigration status is currently being processed, but I am uncertain when it will be completed,' he wrote. 'I assure you that I am in the U.S. legally at this time.' Rohrbacher weighed in at noon the next day. 'I think this explains what happened,' Rohrbacher replied, writing that Wang 'was hired legally but when countries of concern was passed no one went back and checked again.' Another professor of Chinese Language and Culture who was made aware of the situation reached out to Rohrbacher via email the same day to express her concerns that Wang might be fired. 'We all know how disruptive it would be if he had to stop teaching in the middle of the semester. We should try our best to prevent that from happening, for the sake of the students' learning and well being,' wrote Jing Zhang, who also is New College's director of International Studies. Rohrbacher responded the next morning. 'Everyone wants Kevin to stay,' he wrote. 'The lawyers are trying to determine whether his reappointment violates the BOG 'countries of concern' rule and we'll have to see what they come up with.' Hours later, the college informed Wang his contract had been cancelled, effective immediately. 'Almost at the same time, they closed my NCF account,' Wang told Suncoast Searchlight. 'I cannot get into my email and cannot even say goodbye to my students.' Instead, he texted his students and sent them an email from his personal account notifying them that he had been dismissed. New College has scrambled to fill the teaching gap left by Wang's dismissal. But students in the Humanities Division were blindsided by his firing, according to emails obtained through the public records request and texts from Wang's students that Suncoast Searchlight reviewed. In an email to Rohrbacher requesting a meeting between Wang's students and New College administrators, Clark, the chair of the humanities department, wrote that the students had expressed a 'high level of anger' about Wang's removal. Wang, meanwhile, said he is preparing to leave Florida but that he will remain in the United States while pursuing his bid for asylum. Although he's upset about what happened, he said, he must now focus on what comes next. 'As an adjunct, I do not have much time or energy to delve deeply into this matter,' he wrote in his letter to Suncoast Searchlight, 'but I truly hope that such interference undermining academic freedom will not occur again in a place that claims to be a 'beacon of democracy.'' This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more at
The Guardian
29-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Florida college fires Chinese professor under state's ‘countries of concern' law
The New College of Florida has fired a Chinese language professor under a state law that restricts Florida's public universities from hiring individuals they deem to be from 'countries of concern'. On Friday, Suncoast Searchlight reported the firing of Kevin Wang, a professor who has sought asylum in the US and is authorized to work in the country. According to the outlet, Wang had been teaching classes in Chinese language and culture for nearly two years when he was fired on 12 March. According to his dismissal letter, which Suncoast Searchlight reviewed, the New College of Florida's decision to terminate Wang's contract was 'not based on any misconduct and does not constitute a dismissal for cause or disciplinary action'. Instead, the college cited state law SB 846 which states that schools 'may not accept any grant from or participate in any agreement with any college or university based in a foreign country of concern' without the approval from the board of governors, Suncoast Searchlight reports. According to the law, the so-called 'countries of concern' include China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria. The law, which went into effect in July 2023, also prevents state universities from entering into partnerships with 'any person who is domiciled in a foreign country of concern and is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States'. Suncoast Searchlight reports that Wang, who was hired by the New College of Florida three weeks after the state law went into effect, said that before he came to the US in May 2022, he was a university professor in China. 'I faced political repression from the Chinese Communist Party for criticizing Xi Jinping and the CCP's domestic and foreign policies, resulting in the loss of my teaching position and my freedom to teach, research, and express myself in China,' Wang told the outlet. 'I never expected to face such a distressing experience after escaping persecution from the CCP in China, only to encounter a somewhat similar situation at New College in the United States,' he added. According to Wang, he is preparing to leave Florida but will remain in the US as he continues his pursuit of his asylum bid. 'As an adjunct, I do not have much time or energy to delve deeply into this matter …but I truly hope that such interference undermining academic freedom will not occur again in a place that claims to be a 'beacon of democracy',' Wang told Suncoast Searchlight. As part of Florida's Republican governor Ron DeSantis's culture wars against 'wokeness' across various institutions including universities, the New College of Florida – a historically liberal arts school – has in recent months hired ideologically aligned rightwing faculty and staff for various positions. In November, the university reinstated a course on 'wokeness' taught by Andrew Doyle, a British comedian and historian whose course described 'wokeness' as a 'kind of cult' with 'disciples … [who] have insinuated themselves into all of our major institutions'. Meanwhile, last September, the college hosted Steve Sailer, who has been described as a 'white supremacist', at a public event on how 'periods of heightened activism correlated with increased crime rates'.
