Despite the coronavirus pandemic, 16 Global Business Journalism international students defended their master's theses on May 25 and two defended their journalism portfolios before two panels of professors from the Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communications.
Sixteen of the 18 students successfully defended their work. Two of the students had a final decision deferred pending revisions.
The top students included Betsy Joles of the United States, Angela Feng of Canada and Heijin Lee of Korea.
All of the Global Business Journalism students took part in the thesis defense remotely via Zoom. Most Chinese professors listened by video in the Global Sources Room in the journalism school building. GBJ co-director Rick Dunham participated via Zoom from Arlington, Virginia.
All of GBJ's Chinese and international graduates will celebrate their commencement in an event tentatively scheduled for June 21. Final details of the commencement have not yet been announced.