Every child grows differently. Every family faces decisions that matter.
From growing up to high school, college, and early adulthood, IGF helps families understand where their child is now, what matters next, and how to move forward with greater clarity.
How IGF Works
How IGF Works
DISCOVER
Discover
Learn through IGF's articles, conversations, and public programs.
DIAGNOSE
Diagnose
Understand where your child is and what matters now.
BUILD
Build
Create a clear 6–12 month pathway.
ACCESS
Access
Use advisory support, programs, or specialized experts when needed.
REVIEW
Review
As the child grows and circumstances change, the pathway evolves too.
Founders
Meet the People Behind IGF
Dr. Xiao “Wendy” Liu
Co-Founder and Education Planning Specialist
Dr. Xiao “Wendy” Liu brings more than twenty years of experience in education across China and the United States. She earned a B.A. in English Education from Hunan Normal University, an M.A. in Multilingual and Multicultural Education from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland. She has also completed professional education programs at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Liu previously served as a Chinese Immersion Instructional Specialist at the Delaware Department of Education, where she supported statewide immersion programs, curriculum development, and teacher training. She later founded and developed the middle and upper school Mandarin program at Tower Hill School, a leading independent school in Delaware. She currently serves as an Upper School faculty member and Chinese International Student Services Coordinator at La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Florida Christian University.
An education researcher, mother of two, and author of three books on parenting and child development, Dr. Liu focuses on adolescent growth, family relationships, cross-cultural transitions, international student support, and U.S. educational planning. Drawing on her combined experience as an educator, researcher, and parent, she helps families better understand their children, clarify long-term goals, and turn educational ideas into practical plans for growth.
Dr. Yi Cheng
Co-Founder and Academic and Career Planning Specialist
Dr. Yi Cheng earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Florida State University and completed postdoctoral research in Materials Engineering at the University of Maryland. His interdisciplinary background spans physics, materials science, chemistry, biomaterials, and nanotechnology.
Dr. Cheng spent twelve years as an R&D scientist in the Core Technology Division of W. L. Gore & Associates. His work focused on materials science, product innovation, the discovery of new materials, and advanced materials analysis, characterization, and imaging. He has published more than twenty papers in international academic journals and brings extensive experience across fundamental scientific research, advanced materials development, and industrial product innovation.
Dr. Cheng has advised high school, undergraduate, and graduate students on academic pathways, research development, college applications, and career planning. He has personally visited more than seventy U.S. universities and forty secondary schools. Drawing on his experience as both a scientist and an industry researcher, he helps students connect their interests and abilities with academic majors, research opportunities, and future careers while developing capabilities that will remain valuable in a rapidly changing world.
Our Team
Our Core Strengths
IGF was founded by Dr. Xiao “Wendy” Liu and Dr. Yi Cheng, two PhD parents who have studied, worked, and raised their children in the United States. Their complementary backgrounds in education, physics, materials science, scientific research, and technology R&D allow IGF to approach student development from both human and analytical perspectives.
Firsthand experience across Chinese and American education
Our team brings more than twenty years of experience in K–12 education, university teaching, state-level education leadership, curriculum development, international student support, and family engagement. We understand both how educational systems operate and how students experience them in everyday life.
Scientific research and technology-industry expertise
With experience spanning doctoral and postdoctoral research as well as R&D in a major U.S. technology company, our team helps students understand the connections among academic disciplines, college majors, research training, industry development, and future careers.
Long-term and integrated student planning
We do not view education as a single school-selection or college-application decision. We develop long-term pathways based on each student’s interests, abilities, personality, and family goals, integrating academics, extracurricular activities, research, college preparation, and career exploration.
Extensive experience with real students and families
Through education platforms including “美国双博士爸妈” and “美国教育图鉴,” our founders have built a combined audience of more than 800,000 subscribers, produced nearly 1,000 educational videos, hosted hundreds of livestreams, and interviewed more than 100 educators from China and the United States. Their work is also informed by years of direct advising experience and a broad range of real student cases.
The combined perspectives of educators, scientists, and parents
We are not only educators and researchers but also parents who have personally navigated education across China and the United States. We recognize the importance of academic achievement and college admission, but we look beyond them to the development of independence, self-management, intellectual curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning.
Cross-cultural understanding and access to educational resources
Our team maintains connections with schools, universities, educators, researchers, and professionals across the United States. We help families understand differences between educational systems, reduce information gaps, and make choices grounded in the student’s individual needs and long-term development.
We believe education is not about finding one standard answer. It is about helping each student recognize their possibilities, identify a direction that fits, and build the capabilities to thrive throughout life.
Community
Moments From the IGF Family Community
Not polished success stories — just the everyday moments of a community that keeps showing up together.
Testimonials
What Families Say About IGF
Sincere and responsible — always on the child's side
What gave us the greatest confidence in working with Dr. Liu and Dr. Cheng was their sincerity. They did not simply tell us what we wanted to hear, nor did they create anxiety around college admissions. They were honest about the challenges and always followed their observations with practical, actionable guidance. We felt that their goal was not to ‘package’ our child, but to help our child develop self-awareness and find a genuinely suitable direction.
Clear, analytical thinking that untangles complexity
Dr. Cheng brings exceptional clarity and structure to complex decisions. He helped our child understand how academic interests, possible majors, research opportunities, university resources, and future careers connect with one another. We had previously felt overwhelmed by the amount of information involved, but he made the decision-making process much more manageable. Most importantly, he did not make decisions for our child—he taught our child how to analyze options and make thoughtful choices independently.
A genuine understanding of both education and adolescence
Dr. Liu understands not only the American education system but also how to communicate with adolescents. She does not simply speak for the parents or automatically agree with the student. Instead, she listens carefully, recognizes what the student may not yet know how to express, and helps both sides establish a more constructive conversation. Issues that once caused tension gradually became opportunities for our child to reflect, communicate, and take greater ownership.
Fluent in both Chinese and American educational cultures
As Chinese parents raising a child in the United States, we often found ourselves navigating two very different sets of educational expectations. Dr. Liu and Dr. Cheng understood both why Chinese parents worry and how American schools and educators view student development. Their fluency in both languages, familiarity with both cultures, and knowledge of educational resources in China and the United States helped us interpret information more accurately and communicate more effectively as a family.
Focused on long-term growth, not just admission outcomes
What impressed us most was that they never treated admission to a particular university as the ultimate purpose of education. Throughout the process, they paid close attention to whether our child was becoming more independent, learning to manage time, exploring genuine interests, and taking responsibility for personal choices. College admission certainly mattered, but the growth we witnessed along the way mattered even more. Their communication with us was also consistently timely, so we always understood our child’s progress, current challenges, and next steps.
Where Should I Start?
Where Should I Start?
What matters most for your family right now?
You don't need to know which service to choose yet. Start with one question — and let it lead you to the right next step.