BA Zhejiang University

MA Columbia University

PhD State University of New York-Albany

Fanling Cheng’s research lies at the intersection of migration, urban sociology, and cultural analysis. She examines how immigrant communities and “outsider” groups navigate social structures that are both enduring and rapidly changing. Her work includes studies on immigrant residential patterns and the making of global neighborhoods in China, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on ethnic enclaves in New York City. Another strand of her research investigates cultural fields and creative industries, including her dissertation on the outsider art world, which explores how authenticity is constructed and valued. She also conducts ethnographic research with community organizations in Manhattan’s Chinatown, focusing on how intergenerational connections and cultural identity are fostered through neighborhood engagement and artistic practices.

Building on these projects, Cheng’s next research will examine how international migration is reshaping urban transformation in Wenzhou, a rapidly changing city with deep transnational ties. In her teaching, she encourages students to connect personal experiences with broader social contexts through sociological imagination. Through her scholarship and teaching, Cheng highlights the central role of migration and culture in shaping cities, communities, and social change.

International Migration, Urban Transformation, Cultural Sociology

Cheng, F., Liang, Z., & Xu, T. (2024). The Making of a Global Neighbourhood in China. Urban Studies (SSCI Q1), 00420980241245324.

Cheng, F., Co-Translator, Oxford Dictionary of Sociology (Chinese Edition). Commercial Press, 2024.

SOC 1000 Introduction to Sociology

SOC 3150 Urban Sociology