Originally from Laos, Sananikone was an East-West Center participant in the mid-1960s. He credits the Center’s cross-cultural environment with shaping both his personal life and his career as an international development economist and business executive who has worked on every continent. Sananikone is the first East-West Center alumnus to be elected chairman.
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The EAST-WEST CENTER is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Center contributes to a peaceful, prosperous and just Asia Pacific community by serving as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education and dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Funding for the Center comes from the U.S. government, with additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations and the governments of the region.The EWC Board of Governors consists of 18 members, including five appointed by the governor of Hawai‘i, five appointed by the U.S. secretary of state, five members from Asia and the Pacific Islands who are elected by the full board, and three ex-officio members who include the governor of Hawai‘i, the assistant secretary of state for educational a