IAR MAPPSSA Graduate Student Conference

Dear professors, graduate advisers, program secretaries, and especially graduate students,

The University of British Columbia’s Institute of Asian Research is sending out a call for papers for its annual graduate student conference, to be held on Thursday, March 17th - Friday, March 18th, 2011. The Institute of Asian Research conference is conducted by graduate students from the Masters of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies (http://www.iar.ubc.ca/mapps). We greatly appreciate your help in distributing this message to your graduate students, and anyone else who may be interested in submitting papers for our symposium. Our conference aims to facilitate scholarly exchange within the academic community, and we especially encourage submissions from our international peers in the Asia-Pacific.

The Call
The 2011 Asia Pacific Policy Graduate Symposium, Transnational Policies: Connecting the Asia Pacific will seek to examine current and future policy implications in the Asia Pacific region. Although our theme deals with transnational policies, it can also apply to domestic issues that have international implications. As a graduate symposium we are hoping this event will allow students to deepen their knowledge, both inside and outside their fields of interest, as well as enhance their experience as presenters and participants in a conference setting. The critical evaluation of your research by peers and professors at the Institute of Asian Research will be tremendously beneficial for those trying to improve their research methods. This symposium should also be viewed as an excellent opportunity to network with like-minded scholars in various fields related to the Asia Pacific from North America and across Asia. Prospective presenters may have the possibility of being published in the e-journal of the College for Interdisciplinary Studies (CFIS) and the Asia Pacific Memo (see http://www.asiapacificmemo.ca/). This is a general call for graduate students from relevant disciplines to act as:

1. Paper presenters for the symposium
2. Participants who will actively discuss about presented papers

The symposium is interested in building discussions on transnational Asia-Pacific policy issues. Students in all fields are encouraged to demonstrate the policy significance of their work. We are currently exploring the use of various types of presentation styles (e.g. round-table discussions, panel discussions). The possible topics for these presentations might include, but are not limited to:

- Gender Issues
- Development
- Health
- Security
- Economics and Social Change
- Governance and Human Rights
- Media

The Submission
Those interested in participating, either as presenters and/or participants, should complete the attached submission form and send it to iar.conference@gmail.com. The pdf file can be saved using "Adobe Acrobat Reader" (8 or above) for windows users (updated versions can be found at http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html) and can be saved using "Preview" for mac users. Please ensure that submissions are written in English and consist of only a 300 word abstract. The application deadline is Friday, January 14th, 2011. Decisions will be communicated by mid-February.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at iar.conference@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

The IAR Conference Committee
http://www.iar.ubc.ca/mapps/mappssaconference.aspx

Outreach Coordinator, Asian Studies Center at MSU

DUTIES: The outreach coordinator will strengthen the connection of the
Asian Studies Center and Michigan State University with local schools,
community colleges and communities to enhance their understanding of and
engagement with Asia. Duties include, but are not limited to: interacting
with teachers, school administrators, librarians and community
coordinators about their interests and needs, organizing school and
community outreach events, assisting teachers in developing Asia-related
curricula, and arranging workshops and other professional development
opportunities for teachers. The coordinator will also organize, develop,
and promote externally-oriented events for the Asian Studies Center,
including the S. C. Lee Scholarship Competition and Celebration, teacher
education workshops, endowed lectures, language events, orientation and
acculturation events for external visitors, community events, film
screenings, and art exhibitions and demonstrations. The coordinator will
work with the two MSU museums to create and deliver Asia-focused
activities, and with the academic colleges to plan, externally promote,
and run programs on Asia. The coordinator will also work closely with the
Asian Studies Center event coordinator and other assistants, student
workers, and interns to plan events and develop and disseminate
promotional materials, including the newsletter of the Asian Studies
Center. For more information about the Asian Studies Center, please visit
our website at http://asia.isp.msu.edu.



APPLICATIONS: Due January 1, 2011. Late submissions will be considered if
a suitable candidate pool is not identified by the deadline. For further
information, contact Ellen Acker, Asian Studies Center, 884-2120. Send
application materials electronically by January 01, 2011 to
chandr45@msu.edu, Siddharth Chandra, Director, Asian Studies Center, 301
International Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1035.



QUALIFICATIONS: Masters in relevant field. Qualifications other than
degree: Applicants must show strong interest in and knowledge of Asia,
have experience working at the K-12 level, and demonstrate excellent
skills in communication and organization. Applicants are also expected to
be energetic, proactive, detail-oriented, able to work within groups and
as an individual, and willing to work on a flexible schedule.

Part-Time Job Announcement: Events and Communications Assistant

Events and Communications Assistant

Position Description:

The Events and Communications Assistant position is located in the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs. This position is primarily responsible for assisting the Program Coordinator with Sigur Center events, which includes attending all events and assisting with event set up, tear down, photography, and other logistics. Other administrative duties relating to events and communications as assigned, such as editing flyers, sending invitation and reminder emails, tracking RSVPs, updating the website, etc. Dreamweaver and/or Vignette experience highly desireable. Federal Work Study is preferred, but not required. If you have FWS, please declare the amount of your award in your cover letter.

Please note that events primarily take place mid-day. For this reason, graduate students are preferred; however, juniors and seniors with availability between 10:30 am – 3 pm can apply. This is a great opportunity for someone interested in Asian Studies and International Affairs to be closely involved with Sigur Center programming.

Qualifications:

* Interest in/knowledge of Asian Studies and International Affairs

* Asian foreign language skills

* Experience living, working, or studying in Asia
* Strong customer service and interpersonal skills

* Events, communications, and/or administrative experience

* Ability to move heavy chairs and tables

Application Procedures:

* Email resume and cover letter to jhkeller@gwu.edu (Josie Keller, Sigur Center Program Coordinator).

* Please include the amount of your FWS award in your cover letter.

* Due to a high volume of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.

Internship Opportunity at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China is offering paid internships to qualified undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates this coming spring in Washington, D.C. Interns must be U.S. citizens. The application deadline is December 1, 2010 for the Spring 2011internship that runs from February to May 2011. Spring internships are generally part-time; interns are expected to work from 15 to 20 hours per week but may be allowed to work additional hours. See application instructions below.

CECC internships provide significant educational and professional experience for undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates with a background in Chinese politics, law, and society, and strong Chinese language skills.

Interns work closely with the Commission and its staff on the full array of issues concerning human rights, the rule of law, and governance in China (including criminal justice, democratic governance institutions, environmental problems, religious freedom, freedom of expression, ethnic minority rights, women's rights, etc.).

Interns perform important research support tasks (often in Chinese), attend seminars, meet Members of Congress and experts from the United States and abroad, and draft Commission analyses.

The CECC staff is committed to interns' professional development, and holds regular roundtables for interns on important China-related issues.

Spring 2011 interns will be paid $10/hour. Those unable to apply for the spring internship may apply for the Summer (June-August) or Fall (September-December). Further details are available on the Commission's Web site at (www.cecc.govwww.cecc.gov>)

Qualifications:

* Interns must be U.S. citizens.
* Interns should have completed at least some China-related coursework. It is also desirable that they have some background in one or more of the specific human rights and rule of law issues in the CECC legislative mandate<>.
* Interns should be able to read Chinese well enough to assist with research in newspapers, journals, and on Web sites. More advanced Chinese language capability would be a plus. The successful candidate for an internship often will have lived or studied in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan.
* Although our interns are generally undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates, others are also welcome to apply.

Application Instructions for Spring 2011:

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for two references, to the CECC via e-mail to Judy Wright, Director of Administration at judy.wright@mail.house.gov<> by December 1, 2010. Applications must be received by our office no later than 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on December 1. Please discuss in your cover letter how your professional goals, interests, and background relate to the Commission's legislative mandate regarding human rights and the rule of law in China.

Alumna Jennifer Park Stout Named Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Jennifer Park Stout (M.A. '06) was recently named the U.S. Department of State's deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs. In her new position, Ms. Stout will oversee all public diplomacy operations including Fulbright programs, cultural exchanges, and English language teaching programs.

"The region is home to a third of the world's population and to some of our most important security and trade partners," said Ms. Stout. "Americans understand that our future is linked to the future of the Asia-Pacific region, and so we remain deeply engaged."

Ms. Stout most recently served as senior advisor and director of Senate affairs in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs at the Department of State, where she coordinated the development of the department's and administration's foreign policy-related legislative priorities. Prior to joining the Department of State, Ms. Stout, who studied international affairs with a concentration in security studies at the Elliott School, spent 11 years on Capitol Hill as a staff member to Senators Joseph Biden, Patrick Leahy, and Jim Webb, and to Representative James Moran.

"After spending my entire career prior to the State Department on Capitol Hill, it has been fascinating to witness a different perspective of foreign policymaking," said Ms. Stout. "I have enjoyed the ability to focus on a particular region of the world and drill down to a more detailed level of policy. I have been impressed with the caliber of the professionals who work for the State Department and who work hard every day in support of our foreign policy goals and objectives."

Ms. Stout credits her Elliott School education with providing her a good foundation on which to pursue a career in foreign policy.

"The classes were a good mixture of theoretical and practical application and were a valuable complement to what I was getting in the workplace."

http://elliott.gwu.edu/news/briefing/nov10/stout.cfm

Opportunity for Graduate Students to Serve as a Mentor to Elliott School Undergraduate Scholars

Coffee, Inspiration and a Stipend: Become a Mentor to an Elliott School Undergraduate Scholar!

With Thanksgiving break on the horizon and finals coming up after that, it can be difficult to see past the next econ problem set, let alone remember what inspired you to choose a career in International Affairs in the first place. Let us refresh your memory…Become a mentor to an Elliott School Undergraduate Scholar!

We are looking for graduate students to serve as mentors for promising undergraduates participating in the Elliott School Undergraduate Scholars program. Through this exciting initiative, top undergraduates work with a faculty advisor to conduct independent research on an international affairs topic and produce a 30-page paper. The Undergraduate Scholars, who also receive a research stipend, meet weekly to learn research skills and explore possible outlets to further their research (such as publication, conference participation, graduate study, Fulbright grants, and career paths).

In addition to working with a faculty advisor, another highlight of the program is that each Scholar is paired with one or two graduate student mentors. Mentors will discuss their research and professional interests in the international affairs field and serve as a research and career resource. We will do our best to pair Scholars with mentors whose expertise or interest is relevant to the research topic. Even when a Scholar’s project does not fit the mentor’s professional or academic focus, the relationship can still be meaningful.

Although the relationship with the Scholar is the main benefit of graduate student participation, mentors will also receive a stipend of $200 and gain experience that they can include on their résumés.

Mentors will meet their Scholars at a kickoff reception on January 24. Each mentor/Scholar pair will have coffee together (paid for with the Scholar’s research stipend) and stay in touch throughout the spring semester as the Scholar’s project develops. At certain points in the semester, the undergraduates will share drafts of their papers. There will be a breakfast get-together for all mentors and Scholars on February 28, and then there will be a final research symposium on April 11 at which Scholars will present their research and mentors will serve as moderators.


In addition to the coffee date, mentors should plan to attend these events:

Please attend one training session.

Mentor Training Session – Wednesday, January 12, 8:00 to 9:00 am, Academic Advising Conference Room (1957 E Street NW, Suite 302); Light breakfast provided

Mentor Training Session – Tuesday, January 18, 5:00 to 6:00 pm, Academic Advising Conference Room (1957 E Street NW, Suite 302); Snacks provided

Kickoff Reception – Monday, January 24, 5:00 to 6:30 pm, Lindner Family Commons, 1957 E Street NW, 6th Floor

Scholar/Mentor Breakfast Get-Together – Monday, February 28, 8:00 to 9:30 am, Academic Advising Conference Room (1957 E Street NW, Suite 302); Light breakfast provided

Final Research Conference – Monday, April 11, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Lindner Family Commons, 1957 E Street NW, 6th Floor


If you are interested in applying, please email the following to http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=esiamentors@gmail.com by December 6:

1. A paragraph explaining why you are interested in serving as a mentor.
2. A list of the countries/regions and the functional areas in which you have expertise and/or interest
3. Your résumé.

If you have questions, please contact Annie Vinik, Associate Director of Academic Advising & Student Services.* Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a graduate student who served as a mentor last year, please contact one of the lead mentors, Anna Applefield (http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aha@gwmail.gwu.edu) or Nathalie Allam (http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nathalie.allam@gmail.com).

*Please note that Annie will be out of the office until Monday, November 29 and will respond to your email the week after Thanksgiving.

Full-time position available with Prof. Mike Mochizuki - Apply Today!

The Assistant to the Office of Academic Programs (within the ESIA Dean's Office) position has recently become available. This is a great opportunity to work very closely with the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Asian Studies Professor Mike Mochizuki.

This is a great position for current graduate students since, in addition to being paid a regular salary, full-time employees at GW receive 96 percent tuition remission.

A job description can be found here: https://www.gwu.jobs/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=148808.

You must apply through the link above but are strongly encouraged to let Matt Grieger at the Sigur Center know of your intent to apply.

Good luck!