Asian Studies Program

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Department News
 
1-18-2012
Emily Morgan '11 to Teach in China

Emily Morgan ’11 has accepted a position as an English teacher in Yuncheng in southwestern Shanxi Province, China.  Said to be the capital of the legendary Xia dynasty in ancient times, today Yuncheng is a city of five million people. Emily, who studied Chinese culture, history, and language while at Berea, will instruct middle school students there from February through June 2012. (Photo, L-R: Dr. Foster, Emily Morgan, Dr. Bates, Dr. Richey.)

       

12-11-2011
Congratulations, December 2011 Asian Studies Graduates!

Emily Morgan '11 (L), Falon John '11 (R)The Asian Studies Program congratulates December 2011 graduates Falon John (Asian Studies major, pictured left) and Emily Morgan (double major in Asian Studies and History, pictured right).

7-26-2011
Campus International Focus for 2011-12: Southeast Asia

Each year, the College’s Center for International Education (CIE) selects an area of the globe as a special focus for the entire campus. The international focus for the 2011-12 academic year will be on Southeast Asia.  Look forward to various campus-wide events related to this area of focus, including interdisciplinary lectures and forums, cultural events (such as dance and music performances), visiting scholars, and more!

7-10-2011
Sarah Resnick '11 to Teach in Japan with JET Program

Sarah Resnick '11Sarah Resnick '11 has accepted a position with the highly competitive Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.  Since 1987, nearly five thousand college and university graduates from all around the world have taught their native languages in Japan through the JET Program, which is administered by the Japanese government in cooperation with 38 other national governments.  Sarah joins more than 2,600 Americans (including several recent Berea College graduates) who have successfully competed for positions in Japanese schools with JET.

4-18-2011
Congratulations, Asian Studies Class of 2011!

The Asian Studies Program congratulates May 2011 graduates Molly Baker, Dylan Bracken, Josh Burczyk, and Sarah Resnick (all Asian Studies majors) as well as Mat Cash and Leandra Sharp (both Asian Studies minors).

4-18-2011
Farewell, Li Laoshi!

After two years of devoted service as our instructor of Chinese language, Ms.Vanessa (Chi-jung) Lee is leaving Berea College in order to pursue graduate studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  再見老師Zàijiàn, Lǎoshī!

3-16-2011
Professor Asked by PBS to Comment on Japan Disaster
Professor Jeff Richey has contributed an invited commentary on Japan's recent earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear catastrophes to the website for the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. Read the commentary here.
2-3-2011
Sarah Resnick '11 Selected for JET Program Interview

Sarah Resnick '11 has been invited to interview for a position with the highly competitive Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program!  Since 1987, nearly five thousand college and university graduates from all around the world have taught their native languages in Japan through the JET Program, which is administered by the Japanese government in cooperation with 38 other national governments.  If selected, Sarah will join more than 2,600 Americans (including several recent Berea College graduates) who have successfully competed for positions in Japanese schools with JET.

12-14-2010
New Scholarships for Study in Asia
We are pleased to share good news from the Institute of International Education (IIE) that the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) program will be re-launched beginning in Summer 2011.  Freeman-ASIA, made possible by a grant from the Freeman Foundation, provides need-based funding of up to $3000 for a summer program of at least eight weeks in duration, up to $5000 for a semester, or up to $7000 for an academic year.  To be eligible, applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents at the undergraduate level who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.  For more information about Freeman-ASIA, including application instructions, visit http://www.iie.org/freeman-asia/.
6-30-2010
Jessica Frazier '09 to Work at Laurasian Institution

The Asian Studies Program congratulates Jessica Frazier ’09, who has just accepted a position with the Laurasian Institution as a coordinator of high school exchanges in Kentucky for students from China, Japan, and South Korea.

4-26-2010
Congratulations, Asian Studies Class of 2010!
The Asian Studies Program congratulates May and September 2010 graduates Roxanne Dian, Simon Garland, Ryan Hagood, and Brandy Wong (all Asian Studies majors) as well as Linh Nguyen, Ashley Teal, and Nathan Turner (all Asian Studies minors).
4-21-2010
Ashley Teal ’10 to Teach in Cambodia
Ashley Teal ’10 has been accepted into LanguageCorps’ TESOL/TEFL teacher certification program.  At the end of her training, she will begin  a year-long assignment in Cambodia.
4-12-2010
Ken Johnson '09 to Begin Law School
Ken Johnson ’09 will begin his studies at the University of Kentucky College of Law in fall 2010.
4-6-2010
Study International Business in Malaysia during Summer 2011

Professors Trish Isaacs and Mark Roselli will offer an intensive travel course to Malaysia, one of Asia’s most vibrant and diverse nations, during Summer Term I in 2011.  Successful completion of this course may be applied toward elective credit for the major or minor in Asian Studies.  To learn more about the course, click here.

4-1-2010
Prof. Foster Translates Ancient Chinese Text on Game of Go

The Game of GoOriginating in China more than 2,500 years ago, go is one of the world’s oldest and most popular games.  Berea College professor Robert Foster is translating an ancient Chinese text that offers insights into go and the culture that created it.  Read more and hear a National Public Radio interview with Dr. Foster here.

2-22-2010
Wendell "Hotfoot" Garnett '05 to Begin Advanced Studies in Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy
Having completed three years of training at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies in Dharamsala, India,  Wendell “Hotfoot” Garnett ’05 recently passed the oral examination required for  admission to the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, the premiere institution  of Buddhist philosophical studies in the Tibetan refugee community.  Thanks to the  generous financial assistance of the Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche Foundation, Wendell now plans to devote the next decade or so to completing the equivalent of Ph.D.-level studies in traditional Tibetan Buddhist philosophy at the Institute.  Read more about his experiences online at his blog.
2-11-2010
New Courses in Aikidō, Tai Chi, and Yoga Approved for Fall 2010
New courses in aikidō, Tai Chi (taijiquan), and hatha yoga have been approvedand will be  taught as cross-listed offerings by Asian Studies (AST) and Physical Education (PED) beginning in fall 2010.   Professor Elizabeth Walker will teach aikidō, Professor Martha Beagle will teach Tai Chi, and Professor Stephanie Woodie will teach yoga.  These ¼-credit activity courses will fulfill elective credit for Asian Studies majors and minors.
12-13-2009
Congratulations, Jessica Frazier '09!
The Asian Studies Program congratulates December 2009 graduate JessicaFrazier ’09, a double major in Asian Studies and International Studies. Jessica plans to continue her studies of Chinese culture and language and pursue career opportunities in the field of international education.
12-7-2009
Kelly Williams ‘07 to begin graduate studies in South Korea
kellywilliamsBeginning in spring 2010, Kelly Williams ‘07 will be pursuing graduate studies at the Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul, South Korea.  Kelly has been living and working in Seoul since January 2009.  Once he has completed his master’s studies in South Korea, he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in an Asia-related field back home in the United States.
10-12-2009
Tristan Lee Riven '06 published in Korea Times

Tristan, who has lived in South Korea since 2006, recently published an editorial commentary on U.S. President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize in the Korea Times.  Read Tristan’s article here.

10-8-2009
Celeste Lee ‘04 teaching English in Japan
Since 2007, Celeste Lee ’04 has been teaching English in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan at Overseaz English Academy.
9-14-2009
Summer 2010 Study in Japan with KIIS
Summer study and travel opportunities in Japan are available through the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)!  Berea College professor of theatre Shan Ayers will join Murray State University professor Yoko Hatakeyama and Georgetown College professor Michael Rich to offer courses on Japanese culture, language, and theatre during June 2010.  The deadline for submission of applications is February 15, 2010.  Prospective applicants should bear in mind Berea College’s revised student international travel policy.  For more information, see KIIS Summer Program in Japan.
8-19-2009
$100 Prize for Undergraduate Asian Studies Essay
The Southeast Conference of the Association for Asian Studies sponsors an annual undergraduate student paper competition. The author of the winning essay—which may be from any disciplinary perspective but must concern Asia—will receive $100 and publication in the Southeast Review of Asian Studies. Papers written between September 1, 2008, and August 31, 2009, may be submitted; the deadline for submission is November 1, 2009. For more information, see AAS/SEC - Student Papers.
8-18-2009
New Policy for Funding International Travel by Students

In response to Berea College’s financial crisis, President Larry Shinn recently announced several changes to the policy for funding international travel by students.   The most significant impacts on Asian Studies majors and minors are the restriction of College-funded study abroad to one trip of any kind (credit or noncredit) per student and the elimination of College support for independent studies, team-initiated studies, or internships in international settings.  For more information on these changes, please click here.  Information about revised scholarship opportunities may be found here.

5-14-2009
Elizabeth Durkin ’05 studying rural health development
Beginning in fall 2009, Elizabeth Durkin '05 will be studying in the Master of Public Health program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. A Peace Corps veteran who worked in Mongolia, she hopes to pursue a career in rural health development.
5-11-2009
Asian Studies Class of ’09
The Asian Studies Program congratulates May 2009 graduates Adam Ledford (major in Asian Studies), Thaddieus McCall (double major in Asian Studies and History), Matthew Arnsdorf (minor in Asian Studies), Ken Johnson (minor in Asian Studies), and Priya Thoresen (minor in Asian Studies)!
4-29-2009
Jessica Frazier '09 to study Chinese in Beijing this summer
Jessica Frazier ’09, a double major in Asian Studies and International Studies, has been accepted into Columbia University’s Summer Language Program in Beijing, China.  There, she will hone and deepen the Chinese language skills and cultural knowledge that she has acquired at Berea during a summer that will include not only formal study but also travel and other extracurricular experiences.
4-24-2009
Adam Ledford ’09 to begin graduate studies at University of Michigan
Adam LedfordThe Asian Studies Program congratulates Asian Studies major Adam Ledford ’09, who has accepted a place in the University of Michigan’s M.A. program in Asian Studies, beginning in fall 2009.  Adam plans to concentrate on Japanese studies and pursue further graduate training, which he hopes will lead to a career as a teacher and scholar of Asian Studies.
4-13-2009
Thaddieus McCall ’09 and Priya Thoresen ’09 to teach in Japan
 
The Asian Studies Program congratulates Asian Studies major Thaddieus McCall ’09 and Asian Studies minor Priya Thoresen ’09, each of whom has won a place in the highly competitive Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program!  Since 1987, nearly five thousand college and university graduates from all around the world have taught their native languages in Japan through the JET Program, which is administered by the Japanese government in cooperation with 38 other national governments.  Thaddieus and Priya will join more than 2,600 Americans who have successfully competed for positions in Japanese schools with JET. 

4-13-2009
Kelly Williams ’07 Teaching and Studying in South Korea
Kelly WilliamsKelly Williams ’07 has been teaching English through YBM ECC in Seoul, South Korea, since January 2009. Recently, he began formal Korean language studies at Ewha Women’s University and hopes to acquire sufficient fluency in Korean to pursue Korea-related graduate studies at the conclusion of his teaching experience. To his former professors in Asian Studies at Berea, Kelly writes: “Thanks again for empowering me with the knowledge and desire to pursue this journey. It's a blast.”
2-25-2009
" Berea College professor is devoted to Japanese bunraku theater"
Berea College professor Shan Ayers once told a male theater student that the student would be worn out after his role in the class's production of a puppet play. Read more
12-8-2008
Luke Webb, Class of '08

The Asian Studies Program congratulates December 2008 graduate Luke Webb! Luke has applied to a number of different programs in Asian and religious studies and hopes to teach world  religions and related subjects in secondary school settings.

11-21-2008
Denise Won ’06 Studying Feng Shui
deniswonDenise Won ’06 is studying feng shui (traditional Chinese geomancy and environmental design) at the San Francisco School of Feng Shui, where she also works as program coordinator. She hopes to apply her knowledge of feng shui and her interest in ecological design to work as a city planner.
10-13-2008
Kelly Williams ’07 to Teach in South Korea
Kelly Williams ’07 has accepted a position as an English teacher with YBM ECC, a major chain of English-language children’s academies in South Korea. He will be posted to the Sungbuk area near downtown Seoul.
8-18-2008
C. J. Bloomer '05 on Japanese Myth in Fantasy Art
C. J. Bloomer ‘05 has been invited to lecture on “The Mythic Image in Fantasy Art” at DragonCon, the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy in the U.S., which will be held in Atlanta, GA, during Labor Day weekend.  C. J.’s use of mythic images from Japan can be seen in his new graphic novel, The Price of Tea, which will premiere at DragonCon, where C. J. also will display and sell his work.
8-11-2008
$100 Prize for Undergraduate Asian Studies Essay
The Southeast Conference of the Association for Asian Studies sponsors an annual undergraduate student paper competition.  The author of the winning essay—which may be from any disciplinary perspective but must concern Asia—will receive $100 and publication in the Southeast Review of Asian Studies.  Papers written between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008, may be submitted; the deadline for submission is November 1, 2008.  For more information, see AAS/SEC - Student Papers.
6-19-2008
Jarrod Brown '04 Earns Top Scholarship for Graduate Studies
The Asian Studies Program congratulates Jarrod Brown ‘04, who has accepted an offer of admission to the University of Hawai’i at Manoa!   There, he will pursue an M.A. in Comparative Philosophy with a focus on South Asian thought and the philosophy of language.  Not only has Jarrod received a Graduate Division Achievement Scholarship from Hawai’i’s Department of Philosophy, but  he also has been awarded a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship, which will provide Jarrod with up to $50,000 per year of support for the costs of his education (including tuition, living expenses, required fees, and textbook purchases) for up to six years.
5-9-2008
Vera Marinova '06 Earns Top Scholarship for Graduate Studies
The Asian Studies Program congratulates Vera Marinova ’06, who has accepted an offer of admission to Indiana University at Bloomington!  There, Vera will pursue an M.A. in East Asian Studies (with a focus on China) and an M.P.A. (with a focus on nonprofit management and comparative and international affairs).  She was awarded the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures’ only endowed merit-based scholarship, the Louise McNutt Fellowship, which will provide her with three years’ worth of tuition as well as a generous stipend, employment as an Associate Instructor in Chinese, and medical benefits.  Vera plans to continue her graduate studies beyond these programs and eventually work in the field of international environmental diplomacy. 
4-25-2008
Antwuan Buycks and Harrison Levans, Class of '08
Harrison Levans
 
Antwuan Buycks
The Asian Studies Program congratulates spring 2008 graduates Antwuan Buycks (double major in Asian Studies and Philosophy) and Harrison Levans (double major in Asian Studies and Biology)!   Antwuan will teach English in Thailand for the next year or two before pursuing graduate studies in international human rights issues,  while Harrison plans to enroll in Eastern Kentucky University’s Master of Public Health program.
1-24-2008
New Book Edited, Written By Asian Studies Faculty

Asian Studies faculty members Dr. Robert Foster and Dr. Jeffrey L. Richey are among the contributors to Teaching Confucianism, an anthology of essays newly published by Oxford University Press.  The volume, edited by Dr. Richey, features chapters on all aspects of the Confucian tradition written by scholars from both China and the West. 
9-17-2007
Tristan Lee Riven '06 in South Korea

Tristan recently relocated from Shanghai, China, to Seoul, South Korea, where he works at the Seoul English Village.  Read about his experiences here.

8-3-2007
$100 Prize for Undergraduate Asian Studies Essay
The Southeast Conference of the Association for Asian Studies sponsors an annual undergraduate student paper competition.  The author of the winning essay—which may be from any disciplinary perspective but must concern Asia—will receive $100 and publication in the Southeast Review of Asian Studies.  Papers written between September 1, 2006, and August 31, 2007, may be submitted; the deadline for submission is November 1, 2007.  For more information, see AAS/SEC - Student Papers.
6-7-2007
Wendell “Hotfoot” Garnett ‘05
Wendell “Hotfoot” Garnett ‘05 is in Dharamsala, India, where he will study Tibetan arts, language, history, philosophy, and politics for two years at Sarah College of Higher Tibetan Studies.  Read about his experiences here.
5-29-2007
Meredith Parsons

Meredith Parsons ’04 is serving as the Librarian at the Katherine Anne Porter School in Wimberley, Texas.

5-24-2007
Kelly Williams, Class of '07 

Kelly WilliamsThe Asian Studies Program congratulates spring 2007 graduate Kelly Williams (independent major in Asian Studies with double major in History)!

2-8-2007
Ben Botiller ‘03

Ben BotillerAfter completing his M.A. in Japanese at UMass-Amherst and living in China for some time, Ben Botiller ’03 has accepted a position with the Shanghai offices of Takata, a Japan-based manufacturer of automotive safety equipment.

1-22-2007
Wendell “Hotfoot” Garnett ‘05
After working with Tibetan refugees as an English-language tutor for a year, Wendell “Hotfoot” Garnett ‘05 has returned to the USA to earn money for further adventures in India.  He plans to study Tibetan arts, language, history, philosophy, and politics for two years at Sarah College of Higher Tibetan Studies in Dharamsala
12-10-2006
Mid-Year Graduates

Mid-Year GraduatesThe Asian Studies Program congratulates mid-year graduates Vera Marinova (independent major in Asian Studies) and Vivian Cameron (minor in Asian Studies)!

 

11-13-2006
J.D. Bellamy
J.D. Bellamy ‘05 is working with youth through AmeriCorps in Newmarket, New Hampshire.
9-18-2006
Aisulu Masylkanova
Aisulu Masylkanova ’06 is enrolled in the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies’ M.A. program in Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.
8-1-2006
Aren Majilang and John Sexton
Aren Majilang ’06 and John Sexton ’06 are teaching English in South Korea.  Aren is working for the Korean Institute of Brain Science in Daegu, while John is based in the capital city of Seoul.
7-2-2006
John Thompson Marries Jeannette Lynn Heikkila

John Thompsom '03 marriageFuture attorney John Thompson ’03 married future physician Jeannette Lynn Heikkila in Morehead, Kentucky, on July 2, 2006.  John is entering his second year of studies at the Appalachian School of Law.

 

 

6-26-2006
Sarah Ross Enters M.Phil. Program
Sarah Ross ’03 will enter the M.Phil. program in Theology and Religion at Cambridge University in England in October 2006.
4-12-2006
Asian Studies Program Receives "Food Service Good Taste" Award
L-R: Professor Rob Foster, Senior Class President and Asian Studies
independent major Aren Majilang, and Professor Jeff Richey celebrate their awards
At the annual Senior Banquet for graduating students on April 10, the Asian Studies Program was honored to receive the “Food Service Good Taste” Award, given to a campus department that is particularly helpful and routinely goes out of its way to assist students. Professor Jeff Richey also received the “Most Likely to Cure Insomnia” Award,” given to a professor who presents particularly informative, complex and challenging lectures.

4-12-2006
Spring Commencement Ceremony
This year’s spring Commencement ceremony will feature three graduating seniors with independent majors in Asian Studies: Aren Majilang, John Sexton, and Mai Yang. Rebecca Trembula, an independent major in Japanese Studies, and Aisulu Masylkanova, a minor in Asian Studies, also will graduate this spring. Congratulations, seniors!
8-11-2005
Jarrod Brown
As of August 2005, Jarrod Brown '04 is working and studying Tamil and Sanskrit in Bangalore, India. Read about his adventures here.
8-11-2005
Wendell "Hotfoot" Garnett
Beginning in September 2005, Wendell "Hotfoot" Garnett '05 will be teaching conversational English to Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala, India. Read about his experiences here.
5-3-2005
Congratulations to the Class of 2005
Congratulations to the class of 2005! Seven independent majors in Asian Studies completed their degrees during the 2004-05 academic year: J.D. Bellamy, Elizabeth Durkin, Wendell Garnett, Shane Gartner, Shane Gregory, David Luken, and Anthony Wilson.
5-3-2005
Wendell Garnett
Wendell Garnett '05 will spend 2005-06 working with Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala, India.
5-3-2005
Shane Gregory
Shane Gregory '05 begins his studies in Korean at Yonsei University in South Korea in fall 2005.
3-10-2005