Remembering Professor Xiaohong Xu
“Those of us who know him in person know that he is a gentle, soft spoken, and humble intellectual. Those of us who read his work realize the fire and even rebelliousness in his ideas,” said Professor Ho-fung Hong from Johns Hopkins University at Professor Xiaohong Xu’s memorial conference on May 24.
It has been five months since Xiaohong’s passing – his life ended too soon at the age of 45. Prominent scholars from around the nation came to the university of Michigan to honor his legacy and explore his impactful contributions to his field. A few hundred more joined us on zoom from around the world.
Xiaohong was a professor of sociology and associate director at the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies. He was the second China expert to be hired at the department of sociology. Despite the department’s long-held belief that they only needed one China expert given the size of the department, Xiaohong’s expertise won them over. “He contributed so much to so many different conversations in the field of sociology and beyond,” said Elizabeth Armstrong, the chair of department of sociology. “In the last few years of his life he was on fire intellectually.” According to Armstrong, Xiaohong devoted himself to his work despite being ill and produced brilliant scholarship, knowing he was running out of time and wanting to get his ideas out. He deeply loved what he did. Sociology was a core part of his identity, even reflected in his email address at the University of Michigan: socxu@umich.edu
Mary Gallagher, the outgoing director at International Institute, saw Xiaohong’s ambitions as a sociologist extending far beyond China and the empirical studies he conducted, whether on the Chinese revolution, the Cultural Revolution, or the reform. “He was really consumed with big debates and theoretical questions in the discipline,” said Gallagher. She still regrets missing a memo Xiaohong sent her, a short piece on China’s governance style. While she thought it offered great insights, she didn’t agree with Xiaohong’s prediction on China’s future governance. “What I really miss about not having Xiaohong at this conference is that I actually disagree with his prediction,” said Gallagher, a China expert herself. “I know that if I said this right now and he was in the audience, he would get this little glint in his eye with this kind of smile and then we'd be like ‘OK , we're gonna argue about this later.’”
Xiaohong’s work has impacted many who never met him. When Ann Lin, professor of public policy and the director of Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, read applications for this year’s master’s program in Chinese studies, she found that Xiaohong had deeply inspired many students. “Many students wrote in their applications ‘ I want to come to the University of Michigan because I want to work with Xiaohong,’” said Lin.
Fortunately, Xiaohong has left us with his valuable scholarship, allowing us to continue engaging with his work. Following the remarks, scholars discussed Xiahohong’s work in four panels, including “the great separation,” “the misruling elite,” “Methodology,” and “Modernity and the politics of newness: unravelling new time in the Chinese culture revolution, 1966 to 1968.”
The conference, filled with heartfelt tributes and rigorous academic discussions, was a testament to the profound impact Professor Xiaohong Xu had on his colleagues, students, and the broader field of sociology. His innovative ideas and passionate pursuit of knowledge will continue to inspire future generations of scholars. While his presence will be deeply missed, Xiaohong's legacy lives on through his extensive body of work and the many lives he touched. As we move forward, we carry with us the memory of his intellectual brilliance and his unwavering commitment to understanding the complexities of our world.