Title: Founder, Vice Principal, and Outreach Director
Company: Winchester School of Chinese Culture
Location: Andover, Massachusetts, United States
Jennifer Zhang-McKenna, MBA, Founder, Vice Principal and Outreach Director at Winchester School of Chinese Culture, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Nonprofit Educational Leadership.
Ms. Zhang-McKenna has distinguished herself through a multifaceted career marked by dedication to education, community service and cultural advocacy. Since 2007, she has served as the vice principal and outreach director of the Winchester School of Chinese Culture, an institution she helped found in 2004. Her leadership was instrumental in expanding the school’s offerings from a weekend program to include after-school instruction, addressing the needs of families seeking more comprehensive language education for their children. Under Ms. Zhang-McKenna’s stewardship, the Sunday program grew from approximately 30 students to about 700, while the after-school initiative now serves around 200 students across multiple towns. Her greatest professional satisfaction comes from witnessing her students excel in Chinese communication, achieve high scores on the Advanced Placement Chinese exam as early as ninth or 10th grade, and give back to the community by volunteering as teacher assistants and supporting younger learners.
In addition to her educational leadership, Ms. Zhang-McKenna has worked as an invoice data analyst for a government defense contractor since 2006. In this capacity, she audits government bills and invoices to ensure compliance with contract requirements and proper use of taxpayer funds. Ms. Zhang-McKenna’s nearly two decades in this role reflect her commitment to integrity and accountability in public service.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Zhang-McKenna was employed as an architectural engineer from 1993 to 2001. This experience provided her with a strong foundation in technical problem-solving and project management, skills that have informed her subsequent work in both education and financial analysis.
Ms. Zhang-McKenna’s entry into education was motivated by personal experience. Seeking effective Chinese language instruction for her own children in an environment that reflected American values and modern teaching methods, she, together with other mothers, identified a curriculum developed by a Chinese scholar at Stanford University that aligned with their goals, making their school the first in Massachusetts to implement it.
In preparation for her future, Ms. Zhang-McKenna earned a Bachelor of Science in architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. These credentials have equipped her with both strategic vision and practical expertise, enabling her to navigate complex regulatory environments and lead innovative educational programs.
Ms. Zhang-McKenna is active in professional and civic organizations. She is a member of the Chinese American Association of the Andovers and serves on the board of Andover Chinese Culture. Her contributions extend to the Winchester Senior Center (Jenks Center), where she supports intergenerational learning initiatives, and she has served as a voter registrar for the town of Andover, Massachusetts.
In recognition of her long-standing commitment to community service, Ms. Zhang-McKenna received a Community Service Award from the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2020. She attributes her success to attentive listening within the community and strong teamwork with fellow founders Annie Wang and Lian Yu at the Winchester School of Chinese Culture. Ms. Zhang-McKenna emphasizes servant leadership, fostering unity among families who often lack extended support networks after immigrating to the United States. Her approach is rooted in collaboration and responsiveness to community needs.
Born in Shanghai, China, Ms. Zhang-McKenna immigrated to the United States following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1990. Her personal journey has been shaped by her faith as a Falun Dafa practitioner, a spiritual discipline rooted in traditional Chinese culture that has faced persecution in China for over two decades. Today, Ms. Zhang-McKenna advocates for freedom of belief and human rights.
Looking ahead, Ms. Zhang-McKenna hopes that more individuals will come to appreciate the depth and wisdom of traditional Chinese culture and recognize its distinction from modern political ideologies or government systems. She encourages others to experience this heritage firsthand through cultural events such as Shen Yun Performing Arts, believing that these traditions offer enduring benefits for individuals and society alike.
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Winchester School of Chinese Culture
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