Chengcheng Zhai
Chengcheng Zhai joined the Mendoza College of Business in 2024 as an assistant professor in IT, Analytics, and Operations, driven by a passion for using research to solve humanitarian challenges. During her Ph.D. at Indiana University, she studied how NGOs could expand access to clean drinking water in rural Africa, conducting fieldwork to help organizations decide where to place pumps and how to sustain them long-term.
When she interviewed at Notre Dame, Zhai was drawn to how closely the university’s mission aligned with her own. “They weren’t just talking about global development for publicity,” she said. “They genuinely care.”
Soon after arriving, Zhai joined the Faculty Success Program, the program provided tools to balance research, teaching, and personal responsibilities, and she especially valued being in all-female cohort. In a male-dominated field, it offered encouragement and perspective on challenges like work-life balance and career development. Inspired by the experience, she later nominated a colleague to participate.
The mentorship also helped her develop long-term planning habits, from mapping semesters to setting tenure goals, making her more intentional about how she spends her time.
Today, Zhai continues to pursue research with real-world impact. One current project shows that women-led water committees in rural Africa experience fewer equipment breakdowns and longer-lasting water points, reducing burdens on women and girls and creating more opportunities for education, work, and health.
