Dr Yan Wen-Thornton

Dr Yan Wen-Thornton is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Language and Literature. She has been a faculty member at the University of Exeter since 2009. 

Dr Wen-Thornton was the first PhD researcher in the Higher Education sector to conduct a longitudinal study on Chinese women entrepreneurs, examining the impact of the Chinese government's three decades of economic reform from the 1980s to the 2000s. Her research has made a significant contribution to the field of women’s entrepreneurship, revealing how Chinese culture, government policies, and the vast domestic market have shaped Chinese women’s entrepreneurial identities and motivations to establish new businesses.

Beyond her research, Dr Wen-Thornton has a strong interest in narratives, gender,  literature and cultural studies. She also serves as the coordinator (team leader) for Asian Languages, overseeing the instruction and curriculum development of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Her expertise spans Chinese language and business (entrepreneurship) teaching, as well as Classical Chinese, with a particular focus on ancient Chinese philosophy, classical poetry interpretation, and modern Chinese literature.

Dr Wen-Thornton is recognized for her well-organized and innovative teaching approach. Her students consistently provide positive feedback, highlighting her ability to engage, inspire, and support their learning.

In addition to her academic roles, former colleagues have described Dr Wen-Thornton as a highly respected academic with a strong track record of leadership and collaboration. She organized and led the Higher Education Young Talent Alliance (HEYTA) annual summit, hosted by the University of Exeter and supported by Tsinghua University. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded Outstanding Advisor and Outstanding Organizer by the UK-China Humanities Alliance (UKCHA) in September 2022.

Furthermore, she has played a leading role in organizing Open Days to support student recruitment and Chinese New Year events, receiving high praise from both staff and students for enriching cultural diversity, inclusivity, and community engagement.