EDUCATION
Ph.D., Resource Development, Minor: Systems Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
M.S., Agricultural Zoning and Natural Resources Management, Northwestern Agricultural University.
B.S., Agronomy, Northwestern Agricultural University (current Northwestern A&F Technological University), Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2019. Fellow, AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science).
2022. Fellow, American Association of Geographers (AAG)
2022. Distinguished Fulbright - University of Leeds (UK) Scholar Award (one of 38 Distinguished Scholars globally in 2022).
2022. AAG Water Resources Specialty Group Distinguished Career Award in Water Resources.
Three U.S. Department of State Fulbright Specialists Awards (2009, 2015, and 2023).
2021. Geography and Sustainability Best Editor Award
2021. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability Best Editor Award
2020. Global Engagement Award, Western Michigan University
2015. Western Michigan University Distinguished Faculty Scholar.
2014 ,2016 and 2021 Science China Earth Sciences Excellent Editor Awards.
2007. WMU College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award in Research and Creative Activity.
2007. Western Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Staff and Faculty Appreciation Award.
2004. Phi Beta Delta International Scholars Honor Society.
2001. National Research Council /NOAA Senior Research Associateship Award.
1995. Western Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Appreciation Award.
1991. American Water Resources Association Best Student Paper Competition Award.
1990. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
1991. International Leadership Program recipient, Michigan State University.
1988. Thoman Fellowship recipient, Michigan State University.
POSITIONS IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Vice Chair (2016-2020) and Member, Steering Committee of Commission for Water Sustainability, International Geographical Union (IGU), 2011-.
Member, AAG Membership Committee, 2024-.
Member, and Chair (2023) AAG Awards Committee, 2020-2023.
Member, AAG Publications Committee, 2011-2014 .
Chair, AAG (Association of American Geographers) Water Resources Specialty Group, 2008-2010.
Member, Fulbright Specialist Program 2010-2014 Environmental Science Peer Review Committee .
Member, International Professionals for the Advancement of Chinese Earth Sciences (IPACES)
Executive Board of Directors, Ecological Society of China
Visiting Professor, University of Leeds, UK.
KEYNOTE SPEECHES
18) 2025. Keynote Speaker: Large-scale vegetation greening and its safe threshold. 2025 Summer School on Geography and Sustainability, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China, June 11-17, 2025.
17) 2025. Keynote Speaker, “Watershed Science and Sustainable Water Resources Management.” The 2025 Annual Conference of the Hydro-Geography Commission of Geographical Society of China, Shijiazhuang, China, 15-17 May, 2025.
16）Keynote Speaker: Large-scale vegetation greening and its safe threshold. Annual Conference of The Commission of Ecohydrology, The Ecological Society of China, Lanzhou, China, August 13-15, 2024.
15) Keynote Speaker, “Watershed Science: Coupling Hydrological Science and Decision Making for Sustainable Water Resources Management.” Water & Environment Dialogue: Risk Reduction through Sustainable Water Management in Developing Countries, China Africa Water Association (CAWA), Sino-Africa Joint Research Center
Nairobi, Kenya, 22-27 July 2024.
14) He, C. Large-scale vegetation greening in the agro-pastoral ecotone in Northern China: impacts and feedbacks to regional land-atmosphere interactions and water cycles. Summit Forum on Water Resources and Ecological Environment, Jinan University, Jinan, China, June 28-30, 2024.
13) 2023. Keynote Speaker, “Watershed Science: Coupling Hydrological Science and Decision Making for Sustainable Water Resources Management”, The International Workshop on Geography and Sustainability, Beijing, China, October 27-29 (online webinar)
12) 2023. Keynote Speaker, “Watershed Science: Linking Hydrological Science with Sustainable Water Resources Management”, The 4th Watershed Ecology Conference and 2nd Hydro-climatological Extremes and Ecological Security, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, August 4-7.
11) 2019. Keynote Speaker, “Assessment of The SMOS and SMAP of Soil Moisture Products Against Two Sparse In Situ Networks over Arid Mountainous Watersheds, Northwest China”, International Conference: Water sustainability in a changing world, Bucharest, Romania, June 11-14.
10) 2017. Keynote Speaker, “Watershed Science and Global Water Sustainability”, The 12th international Congress of Ecology: Ecology and Civilization in a Changing World, Beijing, China, Aug. 20-25.
9) 2015. Keynote Speaker, “Watershed Hydrology: Advances, Challenges and Opportunities”, Institute of Geological Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Ecological Lecture Series, China, Dec. 21.
8) 2015. Keynote Speaker, “Development of A Watershed Science for Sustainable Water Resources Management”, EcoSmart Conference, Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 12-15.
7) 2015. Keynote Speaker, “Watershed Science and Dryland Ecological Security: Challenges and Opportunities”, Annual Conference of Ecological Society of China, Chengdu, China, Sept.23-25.
6）2014. Keynote Speaker, “Heterogeneity of soil moisture and the environmental factors in the Upper Reach of the Heihe River Watershed, Northwest China” , Dubrovnik, Croatia, Aug.24-28, 2014.
5) 2013. Keynote speaker, “Climate change and water resources sustainability in arid regions” at AULA MAGNA 2013 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) in Lima, Peru, Nov. 11-13.
4) 2011. Keynote speaker, ""Development of Watershed Science and Water Resources Management”. The 9th China Water forum， Lanzhou, China, Aug. 1-3, 2011.
3) 2011. Invited speaker, "Development of Watershed Science and Water Resources Management”. Annual Conference of China Society of Natural Resources, Urumuqi, China, July 25-27, 2011.
2) 2006. Invited keynote speaker, Water Resources Management and The Sustainable Development of Northwest China. Third International Conference on Environmental and Sustainable Development, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China, Aug. 4-8. 2006.
1) 2005. Keynote Speaker: Water Resources Sustainability and China’s Economic Growth. 2005 International Conference on the Circular Economy and Regional Sustainable Development. Hangzhou, P. R. China. Nov.1-4, 2005.
Invited speaker, Impact of Climate Change on the Great Lakes Ecosystem – A NOAA Science Needs Assessment Workshop to Meet Emerging Challenges. Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2008.
Peer review panelist, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development Competitive Research Grants.
EDITORIAL BOARDS
Editorial Board Member, Ecosystem Health and Sustainability (Science Partner Journal), 2016-.
Editorial Board Member, Geography and Sustainability (Elsevier), 2019-.
Editorial Board Member, Science China: Earth Sciences (Springer) 2012-2022.
INVITED LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS
Given nearly 180 invited lectures/presentations at different institutions including: University of Michigan, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, University of Bucharest (Romania), National University of Uzbekistan, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research (Germany), and University of Leeds (UK), etc.