OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
Message from EWCA Co-Presidents Amanda Ellis and Karen Knudsen
Dear East-West Center Alumni,
Happy Lunar New Year! We’re looking forward to what promises to be an exciting and productive 2023 – Engaging with EWC alumni and alumni chapters, introducing new initiatives and programs, and receiving feedback and ideas from all of you.
As we welcome 2023, we would also like to briefly reflect on the triumphs and challenges of 2022.
In 2022, East-West Center alumni, like the rest of the world, found themselves emerging from the pandemic. Tentatively at first . . . and then quickly pivoting to in-person meetings and social gatherings. A highlight of 2022 was the hybrid in-person/virtual EWC/EWCA International Alumni Conference held in Honolulu last summer. Several hundred EWC alumni traveled to Hawaii to participate, and others participated virtually. In addition, Alumni chapters throughout the region began holding in-person meetings and social gatherings again.
In mid-2022, the East-West Center produced a Foundational Strategy providing direction and goals for the Center. In support of the new strategic goals, we launched the EWCA Women, Leadership, and Sustainability Affinity Group. The group has already held two programs – one virtual and one in-person, drawing an audience from alumni and others from around the world. Start your own affinity group today, an interest-driven group for alumni from any location, by getting in touch with the Office of Alumni Engagement at [email protected].
During the pandemic, the bonds of friendship between East-West Center alumni remained strong and alumni kept in touch by holding virtual meetings, programs, and social gatherings. The pandemic reminded us how vulnerable certain populations were and how EWC alumni can make a difference. One group that was particularly affected by the pandemic and its aftermath was EWC students – those caught in the middle when their scholarships ended, and borders were rapidly closing. At that time, the EWC community quickly mobilized to assist students with unanticipated needs. Furthering the commitment to help those in need, EWCA will be assisting in raising funds for the Student Emergency Fund to assist students with unanticipated emergencies. Following specific guidelines and protocols developed by the EWC Education Program, the fund will assist students who face dire and unanticipated needs. Information about this opportunity will be shared with EWC alumni shortly. We are very grateful to EWC President Suzanne “Suzy” Vares-Lum who has made a personal commitment to match the first $10,000 raised.
We’d also like to express our appreciation to the EWC’s Office of Alumni Engagement and its dedicated staff for their continued support and active engagement with alumni around the world.
2023 promises to be an exciting year as EWCA works in partnership with East-West Center’s leadership and the Office of Alumni Engagement to offer new programs and increase our outreach. Your ideas and feedback are important, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Aloha,
Amanda Ellis and Karen Knudsen
A Note from the Office of Alumni Engagement
2022 was another action-packed year for our team. Meeting our alumni ‘ohana virtually and in-person gave us a renewed energy and sense of purpose for what we do. Our team also grew with the addition of Brenda Goo, Enterprise Applications Business Analyst and Daralyn Yee, Alumni Network Specialist.
We are currently working on a new look for the Alumni e-newsletter. In the meantime, we still want to hear from you. Please submit your achievements, publications, in-memoriam, etc. (<250 words and photo, if available) here.
Lastly, we want to ensure that we have your most current information so we can continue to keep in touch. Please fill out this form to update your information with us.
Mahalo for being apart of our alumni community, and we wish you a happy and prosperous 2023!
Join us in 2023!
EWC Programs and Staff travel in region are back in swing. Look for invitations to events happening near you.
January
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Vice President Satu Limaye travelling to Phnom Penh
February
Bali, Indonesia
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Alumni Workshop
March
Kansas City, MO, USA
2023 Asian Studies Development Program 30th National Conference
April
Washington D.C., USA
East-West Center Board of Governors Meeting
Message from EWCA Co-Presidents Amanda Ellis and Karen Knudsen
Dear East-West Center Alumni,
Happy Lunar New Year! We’re looking forward to what promises to be an exciting and productive 2023 – Engaging with EWC alumni and alumni chapters, introducing new initiatives and programs, and receiving feedback and ideas from all of you.
As we welcome 2023, we would also like to briefly reflect on the triumphs and challenges of 2022.
In 2022, East-West Center alumni, like the rest of the world, found themselves emerging from the pandemic. Tentatively at first . . . and then quickly pivoting to in-person meetings and social gatherings. A highlight of 2022 was the hybrid in-person/virtual EWC/EWCA International Alumni Conference held in Honolulu last summer. Several hundred EWC alumni traveled to Hawaii to participate, and others participated virtually. In addition, Alumni chapters throughout the region began holding in-person meetings and social gatherings again.
In mid-2022, the East-West Center produced a Foundational Strategy providing direction and goals for the Center. In support of the new strategic goals, we launched the EWCA Women, Leadership, and Sustainability Affinity Group. The group has already held two programs – one virtual and one in-person, drawing an audience from alumni and others from around the world. Start your own affinity group today, an interest-driven group for alumni from any location, by getting in touch with the Office of Alumni Engagement at [email protected].
During the pandemic, the bonds of friendship between East-West Center alumni remained strong and alumni kept in touch by holding virtual meetings, programs, and social gatherings. The pandemic reminded us how vulnerable certain populations were and how EWC alumni can make a difference. One group that was particularly affected by the pandemic and its aftermath was EWC students – those caught in the middle when their scholarships ended, and borders were rapidly closing. At that time, the EWC community quickly mobilized to assist students with unanticipated needs. Furthering the commitment to help those in need, EWCA will be assisting in raising funds for the Student Emergency Fund to assist students with unanticipated emergencies. Following specific guidelines and protocols developed by the EWC Education Program, the fund will assist students who face dire and unanticipated needs. Information about this opportunity will be shared with EWC alumni shortly. We are very grateful to EWC President Suzanne “Suzy” Vares-Lum who has made a personal commitment to match the first $10,000 raised.
We’d also like to express our appreciation to the EWC’s Office of Alumni Engagement and its dedicated staff for their continued support and active engagement with alumni around the world.
2023 promises to be an exciting year as EWCA works in partnership with East-West Center’s leadership and the Office of Alumni Engagement to offer new programs and increase our outreach. Your ideas and feedback are important, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Aloha,
Amanda Ellis and Karen Knudsen
A Note from the Office of Alumni Engagement
2022 was another action-packed year for our team. Meeting our alumni ‘ohana virtually and in-person gave us a renewed energy and sense of purpose for what we do. Our team also grew with the addition of Brenda Goo, Enterprise Applications Business Analyst and Daralyn Yee, Alumni Network Specialist.
We are currently working on a new look for the Alumni e-newsletter. In the meantime, we still want to hear from you. Please submit your achievements, publications, in-memoriam, etc. (<250 words and photo, if available) here.
Lastly, we want to ensure that we have your most current information so we can continue to keep in touch. Please fill out this form to update your information with us.
Mahalo for being apart of our alumni community, and we wish you a happy and prosperous 2023!
Join us in 2023!
EWC Programs and Staff travel in region are back in swing. Look for invitations to events happening near you.
January
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Vice President Satu Limaye travelling to Phnom Penh
February
Bali, Indonesia
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Alumni Workshop
March
Kansas City, MO, USA
2023 Asian Studies Development Program 30th National Conference
April
Washington D.C., USA
East-West Center Board of Governors Meeting
