Tian Jiayuan

Biography

Jiayuan Tian is a global education changemaker dedicated to bridging opportunity gaps for underrepresented youth. A member of Minerva University’s Class of 2025 and Columbia SIPA’s Class of 2027, he is the founder of Tilting Futures Chinese Media Center, one of China’s largest youth storytelling platforms, and co-founder of OneXplore, a social enterprise helping Chinese students access international education through mentorship, multilingual content, and open-access resources. His work has impacted over 100,000 students and earned him the 2024 Diana Award as the sole recipient from mainland China and a full fellowship at the Watson Institute. Jiayuan’s mission is to reimagine education as a platform for equity, voice, and youth-led transformation.

Written

April 24, 2025

Tian Jiayuan

This personal article by Jiayuan Tian traces his journey from a small city in southern China to global classrooms, unpacking the barriers many marginalized students face in accessing international education. Through founding OneXplore and the Tilting Futures Chinese Media Center, Jiayuan shares how youth-led initiatives can transform both access and narrative—reimagining education as a tool for equity, expression, and solidarity.

April 24, 2025

Bridging Global Education Gaps from the Inside Out

Tian Jiayuan

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