EWC: mission and organization overview

The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the US Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options. The Center is an independent, public, nonprofit organization with funding from the US government, and additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments in the region.

Over fifty years of serving as a US-based institution for public diplomacy in the Asia Pacific region with international governance, staffing, students, and participants, the Center has built a worldwide network of 57,000 alumni and more than 750 partner organizations.

The Center's 21-acre Honolulu campus, adjacent to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, is located midway between Asia and the US mainland and features research, residential, and international conference facilities. The Center's Washington, D.C., office focuses on preparing the United States for an era of growing Asia Pacific prominence.

Organization overview:

An 18-member international board governs the East-West Center. Dr. Charles E. Morrison is President of the East-West Center.

The East-West Center carries out its mission through the following programs of cooperative study, training and research:

The East-West Center Research Program conducts multidisciplinary research on issues of contemporary significance to Asia, the Pacific and the United States. Dr. Nancy D. Lewis is the Director of the Research Program.

The East-West Center Education Program provides a wide range of opportunities to help prepare the United States and the Asia Pacific Region for a new era of increased interdependence. Dr. Terance Bigalke is Director of the Education Program.

The East-West Center Seminars Program provides short-term educational experiences for policymakers, professionals and scholars from Asia, the Pacific and the United States. Raymond Burghardt is Director of the Seminars Program.

The East-West Center Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) conducts a broad range of activities to enhance the quality of life in the Pacific islands. The founding mission of PIDP, established in 1980, is to assist Pacific islands leaders in advancing their collective efforts to achieve and sustain equitable social and economic development consistent with the goals of the Pacific islands region's people.

The East-West Center in Washington (EWC Washington) conducts collaborative research, training, seminars, and outreach around the theme of conflict reduction in Asia. Dr. Satu Limaye is director of EWC Washington.

Also based at EWC Washington is the United States Asia Pacific Council (USAPC), which is hosted by and administered through the Center. The Council draws upon the Center's extensive in-house expertise at its Honolulu headquarters as well as that of other U.S. institutions devoted to the promotion of U.S. relations with the Asia-Pacific region. Dr. Mark Borthwick is director of USAPC.

The East-West Center Office of External Affairs conveys information about the Center to the public. Karen Knudsen is Director of External Affairs. Outreach activities include media relations, briefings, special events, and the Alumni Office and Arts Program. EWC outreach also includes a community volunteer organization, the Friends of the East-West Center.

The East-West Center Foundation expands and enhances support for the Center. Private resources support student scholarships, research and seminar initiatives not covered by the Center's core congressional funding. Contributions can be accepted online via the Foundation's secure website service. The Foundation is governed by a separate Board of Directors and administered by EWC Foundation Vice President Mangmang Brown.

The Office of Administration provides support services to the East-West Center, including administrative, financial, human resources, facilities management, housing, Hawaii Imin International Conference Center, mail services and information technology and support services. Ricky Kubota is the Director of Administration.

For further information, please go to http://www.eastwestcenter.org/