East-West Center Alumni and Community

09/26/2026

🍷 EWCA New York Chapter Dinner During UN General Assembly Week

What a wonderful evening of connection, conversation, and EWC spirit in New York!

During UN General Assembly Week, EWCA New York Chapter members and guests gathered for dinner with EWC President Celeste Connors, Ruth Bolan, Chief Advancement Officer, and Bridget Mitchell, Executive Communications & Policy Specialist.

Organized by New York Chapter leader Bill Armbruster, the evening was a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect, welcome new faces, and hear the latest updates from the East-West Center.

President Celeste shared an inspiring message about the Center’s recent developments and her vision for the future. It was wonderful to see our alumni community come together and stay engaged with the EWC.

09/23/2026

In August, EWC alumni from the Hawaiʻi Chapter and EWC staff gathered at Kapiʻolani Park to welcome our new EWC students! 🌺

This picnic takes place annually after the final day of the students’ two-week orientation. Blessed with beautiful weather, everyone enjoyed delicious food, meaningful conversations, and a wonderful afternoon together.

We were also delighted to welcome Ruth Bolan, our new Chief Advancement Officer, who joined EWC last month!

A big mahalo to the EWCA Hawaii Chapter who co-hosted the picnic and to everyone who joined us to make this gathering so special. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect, welcome our newest students, and celebrate the EWC community together.😊

08/26/2026

As we wrap up the summer season, we’re grateful for the alumni who visited the East-West Center in Honolulu over the past few months. It was a pleasure reconnecting with our network.

✨ Tolentino B. Moya, Open Grants (1979)
✨ Phasiree Thanasin, EWC Association VP for Participant Engagement and EWCA Chiang Mai Co-Chapter Leader
✨ Khine Wai Wai Oo, EWCA Chiang Mai Co-Chapter Leader
✨ Hitomi Yokote, EWCA Tokyo Chapter Communication Liaison
✨ Dan Strobel, MPIA, CISA, Former EWCA Washington, DC Chapter Leader
✨ Eriko Yamamoto, EWCA Nagoya Chapter Leader

If you’re planning a trip to Honolulu, stop by the Center and say Hi!

08/19/2026

As part of our Alumni x Arts: FAUNA series, we’re spotlighting alumni whose artwork is featured in the East-West Center Collection.

This week, we feature Jyh-Yih “George” Hsu from Taiwan. George studied food security issues and received his PhD in Agricultural & Resource Economics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1983 as an East-West Center scholar (Resource Systems). Alongside his academic work, he was also an accomplished watercolorist, creating works such as "Two Carp" during his time at the Center. Swipe to learn more about his painting.

In Hawaiʻi? Visit the EWC Gallery to see the full exhibition on view through August 30. Learn more at: eastwestcenter.org/arts

08/04/2026

We’re excited to launch a new series celebrating artwork created by our very own East-West Center alumni featured in the EWC Gallery’s current exhibition, "FAUNA: Animal Imagery in the EWC Collection". Throughout the month, we’ll introduce the artists behind four remarkable works from the collection.

Our first feature highlights the late Mohammad Yasin from New Delhi, India. As an East-West Center scholar (Institute for Student Interchange, 1964), he studied art while earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Nearly two decades later, Yasin returned to the Center as an Artist-in-Residence in 1986, where he painted Elephants, the featured work in this post. Swipe to learn more about the piece and the symbolism of animal imagery.

In Hawaiʻi? Visit the EWC Gallery to see the full exhibition on view through August 30, 2026. Learn more at: eastwestcenter.org/arts

07/30/2026

The July 2026 issue of the EWC Alumni Newsletter is here! In this issue, learn more about the Young Professionals Program, read inspiring alumni stories, and sign up for our new Pilot Mentorship Program.

Subscribe to receive future quarterly issues directly in your inbox.

Program News Investing in the Next Generation of Indo-Pacific Leaders This summer's Young Professionals Program cohort welcomed nine interns to the East-West Center's Washington, DC office. Read the full story.

07/21/2026

Our alumni chapters continue to strengthen the East-West Center community through meaningful gatherings, alumni hospitality, leadership connections, and planning for future programs.

We're grateful to all of our chapter leaders and volunteers for their continued dedication to building vibrant EWC alumni communities around the world.

Read the full Q2 2026 Chapter Reports on our website to learn more about these chapters and the many activities taking place across our global alumni network.

👉https://www.eastwestcenter.org/news/announcement/ewca-quarterly-chapter-reports-quarter-2-2026

07/15/2026

Those who complete the Young Professionals program will have access to the East-West Center Association (EWCA), our Center’s alumni network! An alumni organization with over 50 chapters spanning across the United States and the Indo-Pacific region.

Members have access to professional networking, community, lectures, and service events. Additionally, benefits for students include access to scholarships and professional development opportunities.

Want to be a part of the alumni community?

Apply to the Young Professionals Program today: https://bit.ly/4ezOYOA

07/07/2026

The East-West Center invites graduate students and recent graduates working in their fields of study from around the world to submit abstracts for the 26th International Graduate Student Conference (IGSC) on the Asia Pacific region, taking place from February 11- 13, 2027.

This student organized conference provides an opportunity to share interdisciplinary perspectives through presenting and attending panel presentations in a warm and supportive environment.

To learn more, visit: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/education/east-west-center-student-experience/international-graduate-student-conference

The IGSC offers a collaborative and supportive space for graduate students to share their work, receive thoughtful feedback, and build conversations across fields and regions. We welcome proposals for presentations in diverse formats including academic papers, creative works, performance, and film.

Undergraduates are also welcome to submit proposals that meaningfully engage with the conference theme. Participants may choose to present in person at the East-West Center or virtually via a live online platform, enhancing accessibility for international and remote attendees. Presentations should clearly connect to the conference theme, both in the abstract and delivery.

07/02/2026

Continuing to highlight how our alumni chapters celebrated EWC Day—

In Seoul, the chapter marked the occasion by giving back through knowledge- sharing and community outreach. As part of a charitable volunteer effort, the chapter’s president, Chairman Byoung Moo Yang, visited a correctional facility in South Korea where he spoke with inmates and offered words of encouragement.

The chapter also hosted a pro bono lecture for their local community. Professor Eun Young Cho, member of the Seoul Chapter, presented on the Korean film “Secret Sunshine” under the theme, “Crime, Punishment, and Absolution.”

Drawing from their professional expertise and EWC experience, these efforts created space for learning, reflection, and meaningful dialogue.