Ryan Yang Wang

Ryan Y. Wang was born and raised in Guangdong, China. He earned his bachelor’s degree in international politics at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou. He earned his master’s degree in media studies at the University of Texas. His master’s thesis explored the role of the public library in countering digital divides for ethnic communities in New York City. In this work, he proposed an integrated framework that identifies differences in internet usage between Chinese and Hispanic immigrant library patrons; and he also examined the role of the public library as a local agency for narrowing the digital divide.

His scholarship investigates how information and communication technologies are shaping communities economically, politically and culturally. Specifically, his research interests lie in the digital divide and community development among disadvantaged/marginalized social groups, including ethnic minority communities and immigrants; the role of public spaces including public libraries, computer labs in the digital inclusion; telecommunication policy and the infrastructure of digital systems, such as internet access; and broadband services in both rural and urban contexts. In his spare time, he is a hip-hop beat-maker and producer.