Xiaojing “Icy” Cao is the Director of International Development at EdPlus at Arizona State University. She oversees the ASU Zai Xian program, a Mandarin-language online graduate education initiative designed to expand ASU’s global reach, and leads strategic international partnerships across online education, including the Cintana Alliance, PLuS Alliance, and Security & Defense PLuS initiative. Icy specializes in global digital program development, operational strategy, and cross-border innovation, with a strong emphasis on expanding access and driving meaningful impact in higher education.
Born and raised in China, Icy completed her undergraduate studies in TV Directing before coming to the U.S., where she earned an MBA, a Master of Legal Studies, and a Master of Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Arizona State University, as well as an MS in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Northeastern University. As a former international student, she champions global education as a catalyst for empathy and transformation, working to build future-ready learning environments through data, design, and collaboration.
In addition to her work at ASU, Icy serves as Vice President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Arizona, where she is committed to advancing civic engagement, and educational opportunity within the local and global community.