Dear IAS colleagues and supporters,

As many of you may know, my beloved husband, Dr. David Erikson, Director of the Endocrine Technologies Core at OHSU ONPRC, passed away unexpectedly at home. David cared deeply about my work at IAS and was my steadfast supporter over the years. He had the opportunity to read an earlier draft of this newsletter and was especially excited about the upcoming series of guest lectures, as well as the establishment of the PSU Korean Outreach, Research, and Education (KORE) Initiative and the celebration event planned for this spring.

Sharing this newsletter without him is difficult, but I know how proud and excited he was about the work we are doing. I hope that the programs, collaborations, and initiatives highlighted here will inspire you and reflect the vibrant community we continue to build together.

This winter, we hosted two engaging lectures on China’s epidemic policy and immigration in South Asia, and we are excited to present four additional lectures this spring. Please scroll down for details and mark your calendars – we look forward to seeing you there.

I am also pleased to report that we have submitted our PIVOT Track 2 report. The 13-page document outlines our work in alignment with the university’s mission, financial sustainability, scope of services, and organizational structure. Drawing on our vitality report, IAS budget reports, and activities over the past four years, the report highlights the breadth and impact of our efforts.

I am confident that IAS has remained highly active – hosting lectures by prominent scholars, creating distinctive learning opportunities for our students, and cultivating strong partnerships with community organizations – all while maintaining exceptional cost efficiency. Please see the executive summary below, and feel free to reach out to me if you would like a copy of the full report.

In this issue, we are also pleased to introduce our new dean, Dr. David Bowman, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. We warmly welcome him to our community and look forward to many meaningful collaborations. 

You will also see information about summer study abroad opportunities at Kangwon National University and Chonnam National University. As our valued partner institutions, both of these universities provide exciting summer programs at very affordable costs for our students. 

As always, our door is open for your questions and suggestions. Thank you for your continued support!

Warmest regards,

Hyeyoung Woo, PhD

Director of the Institute for Asian Studies

Professor and Chair of Sociology

PURPOSE

The PIVOT Track 2 Self-Study provides an opportunity for Centers and Institutes, Academic Support Units, and Administrative Structures to offer qualitative insights and contextual information that complement the quantitative data included in the Unit Vitality Reports.

IAS is thrilled to celebrate the launch of the PSU Korean Outreach, Research, and Education (KORE) Initiative! PSU KORE is a newly established program dedicated to advancing Korean Studies on our campus. This important initiative has been made possible through the generous support of the Peter and Helen Chun Endowment for Korean Studies at PSU. Through PSU KORE, we are proud to offer KORE Fellowships for students and Korean Course Development Grants for faculty.

Please join us in celebrating this exciting milestone for PSU!

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I’m David Bowman, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Portland State University. I am a geophysicist by training, and my scholarly work has involved field research and international collaboration in regions around the world, including Tibet, as well as building and sustaining academic partnerships around the globe, including China, Japan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. Across my career, I’ve focused on interdisciplinary education, global engagement, and aligning academic excellence with access, equity, and the public mission of urban universities.

What drew you to accept the position of Dean at PSU?

I was especially excited by the opportunity to work closely with the humanities and to strengthen interdisciplinary connections across the liberal arts and sciences. As a physical scientist who has spent much of my career working across disciplinary and institutional boundaries, I see CLAS as uniquely positioned to integrate humanistic, social scientific, and scientific perspectives in ways that prepare students to engage thoughtfully with complex global and civic challenges. PSU’s mission—Let Knowledge Serve the City—strongly aligns with this vision of interdisciplinary, publicly engaged scholarship.

How has your experience as the CLAS Dean been so far?

It has been energizing and deeply rewarding. I’ve especially enjoyed my interactions with the truly incredible faculty in the humanities and social sciences, whose work is thoughtful, forward-thinking, and deeply centered on student learning and success. Even amid real institutional challenges, I’ve been inspired by the creativity, commitment, and sense of shared purpose across CLAS.


Given that PSU is recognized as an AANAPISI, could you share your thoughts on potential roles of CLAS and IAS in Asian and Asian American Studies at PSU?

Drawing on PSU’s AANAPISI designation and longstanding international connections, I see strong potential to deepen interdisciplinary collaboration, expand global partnerships, and create pathways that connect scholarship, student success, and the lived experiences of Asian and Asian American communities in our region.

Nominate students for summer school in Korea

Faculty are invited to nominate students for the CNU International Summer School (CNUISS). Participants can earn up to 6 credits while exploring Korea through courses, excursions, and cultural activities. Faculty nominations are due March 20, and student applications are due March 27.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Hyeyoung Woo, Director of the IAS at hyeyoung@pdx.edu.

Asian Studies Related Course