News and Events: Zeidman Lecture held on May 1, 2006. Download MP3 audio file by right-clicking on the link and save to play on your media player.

John Zeidman, a 1979 graduate of Sidwell Friends, forged a new perspective of the world and his life through the study of China.  He began studying Chinese language in college, and during his junior year he traveled to Beijing to study abroad at Beijing Normal University.  Sadly, not long after arriving in China, John grew ill and died. 

After his death, John’s family and friends established the John Fisher Zeidman ’79 Chinese Studies Fund to perpetuate John’s belief that Chinese-American relations will thrive if students begin to study Chinese language, history, and culture at the secondary-school level.  Endowed by 
this fund, the Chinese Studies Program was 
inaugurated at Sidwell Friends in 1983. 

The Chinese Studies Program is comprised of seven components: 

• Chinese Language

• Chinese History

• The Zeidman Memorial Lecture

• The Chinese Student Exchange Program

• The Zeidman Fellowship Program

• The Ida Fisher Zeidman Resource Center

• Summer Trips to China

To contact the Chinese Studies Program, click here.

To join the Chinese Studies Program mailing list to receive updates and event information, send an e-mail with your name, affiliation, and e-mail address to Chinese-Studies@sidwell.edu, with "mailing list" in the subject line.