East-West Center’s visionary leader
COURTESY PHOTO
Richard Turbin
The Charles Morrison era as president of the East-West Center will end on Jan. 2. For 18 years, Morrison has been at the helm of one of the most important education and diplomatic institutions in the world whose primary mission is to promote peace and prosperity in Asia-Pacific region, which is the hub of the world’s economic growth and home of the three largest economies.
The important work of the East-West Center cannot be overestimated. It is a Hawaii treasure with more than 60,000 alumni who are leaders in politics, government, business, education and journalism throughout Asia.
The programs developed over the past 18 years have been crucially important in fostering a greater understanding between the United States and Asia. Morrison has continued and strengthened the East-West Center’s student exchange program, which is unique because each year over 100 graduate degree students from the U.S. and Asia live, eat and fraternalize together at the center. Hundreds more come to participate in the many leadership programs. An entire generation of young Asian-Pacific and American leaders in government, business, education and journalism have graduated from these programs. Among them are at least six presidents and prime ministers of major Asian nations, including a recent president of India and an Australian prime minister. Such programs, many of which sprung from Morrison’s fertile intellect, include the Asia Pacific Leadership Program, which gathers young leaders for training, education and networking on the most important issues of the day such as disaster planning, conflict management and public health.
The longstanding Jefferson Fellowship Program is considered the most important journalism program in the Asia/Pacific area.
It brings cadres of journalists from around the world to the East-West Center to study and learn from each other and bring greater knowledge, objectivity and critical thinking to the world’s media. Biannually the East-West Center presents its signature International Media Conference, which is the most important gathering of journalists in Asia. With over 500 participants, it was held in September 2016 in Delhi, India, and in 2014, in Yangon where Myanmar’s leader Aung Sun Soo Chi was the keynote speaker.
The importance of women leadership in the development and democratization of Asian nations has been another key emphasis. The East-West Center’s “Changing Faces Women’s Leadership Seminar” presented in partnership with UH-Manoa’s Shidler College of Business pairs some of Hawaii’s foremost women leaders with young women leaders from all over Asia and the United States.
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Morrison also has brought the East-West Center front and center on the world stage. In 2012 it organized the landmark APEC Conference in Honolulu, which was attended by President Barack Obama and the presidents and prime ministers of the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia and other major nations.
In September 2016, the center hosted the Pacific Island Leadership Forum, where Obama was the keynote speaker before an audience that included more than 10 presidents and prime ministers of Pacific Island Nations. During the last seven years, Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton gave major addresses at the center.
When Morrison retires as president with our thanks — he will continue as a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the center — he will leave it in very good shape for his successor, Dr. Richard Vuylsteke, outgoing president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. The beautiful and iconic East-West Center in Manoa will continue its role as a Hawaii treasure bringing peace, prosperity and good will to the United States and its Asian partner nations.
Richard Turbin is a Honolulu attorney and chairman of the East-West Center board of governors.
14 responses to “East-West Center’s visionary leader”
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Honolulu’s primary international institution and a model for eroding local crony capitalism supported by the bloc voting racial feature of “democracy” – scholarship mixed with populism. Is it a relic from the early 1900s, when communism was powerful or is it evolving into a relevant force feeding power into Hawaii’s declining Dem party fifty years of regulating competition so it only works to the benefit of KSBE and AJA entities, as our economic disequilibrium demonstrates.
Since mythman doesn’t like it, the EWC must be doing everything right.
Does Obama’s Half sister still work there?
Last I saw, she was a College of Education professor. EWC employed Karen Knudsen as Top PR flack. The Economist once rated think tanks around he world for intellectual firepower, influence, and accommodations. EWC occupied the cellar of firepower and influence rankings. It received high marks for accommodations.
Mythman has a point: This expensive center may have outlived its usefulness. It appears to be a sleepy outpost. I thought it was going to be phased out as federal money was withdrawn. Inouye kept it limping along.
Knudsen was a disaster! Would do nothing about immoral behaviour, wouldn’t even tolerate being asked to stop it. I guess because she was learning Chinese from you know who…And had NO loyalty to those who helped her get ahead!
yikes!
Seems like there should have been a picture of Charles Morrison, instead.
It is sad how negative the commenters are. This institution is a local gem, and should be supported by all who live in Hawaii. Not mentioned was the China Seminar which is sponsored by the friends of the East West Center, and which brings local and International Scholars once a month to discuss topics concerning China.
What a terrible puff piece, EWC has gone down the tubes thanks to Charles Morrison
Shanik, Agree. And thanks also to Ames and you know who’s China shenanigans! Say those of us who have had 40+ plus year associations w the center and are responsible for its survival and successes and grants!
It has been a sleepy organization in recent years. Inouye kept it ALIve with other people’s money as he did many organizations out here. Not sure it was a good use of $$$
Praise God! I hope we get someone who will be sharper about hiring, check backgrounds, sharper abput the behaviour of everyone so that lives, families and large business conglomerates are not destroyed by women who run amuck which seems to be the mo of women in Hawaii!
IRT “60,000 alumni who are leaders in politics, government, business, education and journalism throughout Asia.” Nice collection of digits … but how connected are these alumni? How do they feel about being referred to as alumni and what does it mean? It this opportunity cultivated? The biggest challenge can often be being the boss of entrenched career employees. The “this is how we always did it” staff. Changing corporate culture will be a challenge. New visions take a while to settle in.