There’s no doubt, though, that the money will come in handy to Cheng, who is entering his fourth year in the public policy program. He hopes to finish his dissertation early next year – at which time he will be faced with more decisions. “Practically, I will manage to finish my dissertation first and then find a job,” he says. “But in the future, I will certainly and seriously consider contributing what I have learned to China's economic and political reforms.”

In his dissertation, Cheng examines "the location choices of Japanese investors in China and their heterogeneous preferences in those choices."

Not surprisingly, Cheng’s dissertation topic relates to his long-term goal. “In my dissertation, I try to examine the location choices of Japanese investors in China and their heterogeneous preferences in those choices,” he explains.

Cheng has dedicated most of his studies at Mason to regional development policies. “I like these policies because you can really see their results in a comparatively short period,” he says. “In addition, these policies are covering more and more new policy disciplines, like science and technology, trade, human capital, and entrepreneurship. So you can always explore new policy areas.”

Cheng came to Mason in 2000 from Qingdao, China, which is located at the southwestern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, bordering the Yellow Sea on the east and south. Before deciding to study public policy, he received a master’s degree in regional science from the Nankai Institute of Economics at Nankai University and a bachelor’s degree in international trade from the Ocean University of China.