Diane Geng researched education in China as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences from 2004-2005. She has experience in journalism, including working for PBS' Wide Angle and working at National Public Radio (NPR) as the part of the first class of Kroc Fellows from 2005-2006.

Sara Lam researched rural education and collaborated with various non-governmental organizations on rural education projects as a 2004-2005 Third Millennium Foundation Fellow. She has experience working at the Migrant Workers' Center for Education and Action Research in Beijing and at the Yinjialin Community School developing curriculum and coordinating teaching for community education.

Wei Ji Ma is a Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, USA. He grew up in the Netherlands, where his grandparents migrated in the 1920s. His active involvement with rural education in China started with a two-month study trip in 2004 on an Avery Foundation fellowship.