Yirui

Tang

About Me

I’m Chant (Yirui) Tang, Skidmore College ’26.

I double majored in Sociology and Business.

I’m from Beijing, China.

Why Sociology

The sociological lens provides me with a way to truly understand society by stepping back to observe and explore the world from an outsider’s perspective.

I love observing how people interact, and sociology helps me understand the mechanisms behind those everyday moments. It’s a perspective that reveals the hidden layers of how society operates.

Why Business

Business offers me a way to understand how things operate behind the scenes, how organizations make decisions, how products are manufactured, and how ideas are turned into reality. Business gives me practical skills and a problem-solving mindset that balances my curiosity about people and society.

Research Experiences

Independent Study

January 2025 – Present

Digital Migration and Grassroots Diplomacy: U.S. Media Framing and RedNote Cultural Exchange

Investigated how migration from TikTok to RedNote shapes political and cultural narratives between the U.S. and China
Conducted content analysis to examine 1,000 posts on RedNote
Used content analysis to examine 68 articles from US news outlets

Research Assistant

Summer 2025 – Present

“We Are Not a Co-Ed Team, But We’re a Co-Ed Team”: Women Athletes in Mixed-Gender Athletic Environments

Assisted in literature review
Organized demographic data from interviews to improve accuracy
Developed a systematic codebook documenting variable definitions and coding decisions
Conducted semi-structured interviews with women student athletes on co-ed teams
Analyzed 163 interviews using NVivo 14 and thematic coding

Research Assistant

Summer 2025

“My Anxiety and Depression Have Gotten … Worse”: Faculty Well-being during the Intermediate Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic at Three Colleges in New York State

Analyzed 14 faculty interviews using NVivo14 and thematic coding
Assisted in literature review on faculty well-being during COVID-19
Organized demographic data from interviews to improve accuracy

My research interests

I’m interested in social stratification in cross-national contexts: how different societies organize opportunity, allocate resources, and structure inequality through their institutions, welfare systems, and cultural norms.

Mixed-methods

Skills: NVivo, SPSS, Stata, Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite (Pr, Lr, Ps)

Working Experiences

John B. Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative, Skidmore College

Produced and filmed documentaries in various disciplines
Conducted interviews and applied sociological analysis through humanistic visual storytelling
Produced community-engagement campaign clips for initiatives such as the public library, campus sustainability strategy, musical workshops, etc.

Production Assistant

January 2024 – Present

Student Academic Service, Skidmore College

Oversaw accommodations logistics and scheduling for students with learning disabilities
Coordinated with faculty and staff to uphold confidentiality

Testing Coordinator

September 2024 – Present

Easy Transfer, Beijing, China

Conducted market analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for growth
Developed data-informed content strategies to enhance brand visibility and audience engagement
Monitored competitors and industry developments to support strategic decision-making

Marketing Coordinator

June – August 2024

IQIYI Inc. Youth Center, Beijing, China

Planned, executed, and promoted historical and cultural programs for youth audiences
Conducted qualitative research to identify audience preferences and engagement strategies
Strengthened skills in project management and promotional outreach