Alex Coulston has been a part of the East-West Center since the Fall of 2020, when he began as a Graduate Degree Fellow while pursuing his MA in Second Language Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Three years later, he is now completing his position as a year-long research intern with the Education Program (EP). During this time, Alex assisted EP staff with various projects, including the department’s launch of an official internship program called the Young Professionals Education Program (YPEP). YPEP provides an opportunity for a recent EWC participant to receive staff mentorship and professional development in the areas of international education and community-building through engaging with new and existing programs that benefit both the intern and the EWC student community.   

During his time as a GDF, Alex was also involved on the planning team for the International Graduate Student Conference (IGSC), with his main job being recruitment and promoting the IGSC name with institutions around the world, especially within the Pacific region. He also was a small group facilitator with The Exchange for several semesters. “I enjoyed being a part of The Exchange as a facilitator because, especially during those times of social distancing, it was one of the only outlets to get to know people in the community who you didn’t see every day and were able to learn about their own diverse perspectives on real global issues.”   

Empathy, respect, and understanding of other people’s struggles and challenges are values that Alex holds deeply, and that that he will take with him after his experience at EWC as he continues his career in international education. “One of the most meaningful memories I have of participating in the EWC community was an international peace talk that was organized by the International Women’s Group (IWG) and held at Hāle Hālāwai last year. It was one of the first in-person activities that we had during the pandemic. Three participants from areas of conflict shared how these larger conflicts affected their lives and the lives of their families. I think these moments of empathy are very impactful where we can have these intimate and safe spaces within this international living environment and learn from other people.”  

Looking back at his time at EWC, Alex also believes the strong and rich friendships he made played a crucial role during his time here. “Living at EWC created a very strong support system for me, which I am incredibly grateful for, especially through the challenges of being a graduate student when there were many social restrictions. I will miss times in the kitchen, sharing food, and talking about politics and world issues, but also just laughing, being goofy, and spending those precious times with friends.”  

Before coming to EWC, Alex spent time living in Singapore, working at various educational institutions in the city-state, and eventually became a Program Director with Princeton in Asia, an immersive work fellowship program for young and recent graduates. “Working in international education has had a huge impact on my life and has made me think about the importance of the relationships you build with people from around the world and developing a global mindset. I grew up with albinism, which is a genetic condition where my body is unable to produce melanin and has also left me visually impaired. Because I look different, along with my physical disability, I felt like I was often misunderstood, and there are a lot of misconceptions about my condition. I think that led me to want to connect better and understand other people, especially people who have dealt with many misconceptions about their own communities. My undergraduate degree was in International Studies, with a regional focus on the Middle East at a time after the 9/11 Attacks and the War on Terror were happening, and people from that region tended to be portrayed quite negatively in the media, so I wanted to understand that part of the world better.” 

The prospect of growth and continuing to step outside one’s comfort zone initially attracted Alex to apply to join the EWC community and pursue graduate studies in Hawai‘i. “The reason why I came here is to study how people communicate and achieve understanding with others effectively while also having respect and understanding of each other through language, as I strongly believe language is how we all make meaning about the world. If you know someone else’s first language, it can open a whole new world of how people think and who that person is. I also came to Hawai‘i and EWC because I wanted to constantly learn, not just in class readings and discussions, but in the community and in the place where I was studying.” 

Alex hopes to continue a career within the field of international education, particularly working in international program management at an institution of higher learning, and wants to continue playing a role in mentoring people who are embarking on exchange programs or coming to the United States as international students. Being more inclusive and providing international opportunities for people coming from underrepresented communities is something that he wishes to strive for in his next position, including people with disabilities. “We still have a long way to go in providing impactful international opportunities for students and young people from diverse backgrounds so that a place like the United States can truly represent what the country looks like, whether it is through people-to-people exchanges, study abroad, and going up into careers such as the foreign service, and I hope that I can help contribute to those changes.” 

The East-West Center offers scholarships for graduate study as well as affiliation programs for service-minded students with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region to join our international graduate student community. Alex is supported by the Cho Soon Suh Scholarship.