Our sole December 2019 graduate is Nicole Mangin ’19, who has completed a double major in Asian Studies and Art History. Nicole anticipates going to graduate school for further training as an archivist. During her Berea experience, Nicole managed to spend two summers in Japan — first, as a student with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) intensive program, primarily in Japan’s Kansai region, and then as an intern at the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project (KEEP) in Japan’s Kantō region. We wish Nicole every success. 頑張ってください!
Joseph Leis ’18 Connects Japan and America
The Asian studies Department recently heard from Joseph Shinji Leis ’18, who now works for Goken America, which serves clients in the automotive and aerospace industries, notably Honda Motor Company. Although he originally was hired as a Japanese/English technical translator, his Portfolio has since expanded to include simultaneous Japanese/English interpretation, online journal writing, directing the company’s Japanese program, and teaching Japanese language. “My lack of engineering background and the industry jargon was a difficult hurdle to overcome in the beginning,” says Joseph, “but I now enjoy the more inter-relational aspects of my job, as I get to meet new people at every meeting at which I interpret and teach different business people who are preparing to go to Japan. I am grateful that I have a job that is related to what I studied, pays decently, impacts other’s lives for the better, and allows me to utilize my Japanese background.”
Joseph does not plan to remain in this field for the long term, however. With his brother, Benjamin Takeshi Leis ’22, Joseph has inaugurated a podcast about anime and manga entitled Tachi Yomi, which may be heard on a variety of platforms such as iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. He also has developed an interest in chronicling the Japanese diaspora through a documentary film that will explore what it means to be “Japanese” through the eyes of ethnically-Japanese persons all over the world. Look for more news about this exciting project here over the next year or so!
UPDATE (November 7, 2019): Joseph has accepted a position as a Japanese/English translator and interpreter with PlayStation in San Diego, California! He says, “As a kid, I remember dreaming of working in the gaming industry and imagining how cool it would be to be involved with the creation of games, but now that dream has come true. I am working with wonderful team members who are just as passionate as I am and the benefits certainly don’t hurt either. Thank you to all my friends, family, professors, and mentors for your support. I would not have achieved anything in life if it were not for you. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all my co-workers at Honda R&D and Goken America. The time I spent at Honda was invaluable to me. I will not lie, it certainly was tough at times. But with the advice, training, and support from my coworkers, I was able to overcome many barriers and grow immensely as a professional. I am so grateful for the time and training invested in me and I will not forget all the lessons learned at Honda.” おめでとうございます, Joseph!
Molly Baker Halstead ’11 Accepts Position at Centre College
The Asian Studies Department congratulates Molly Baker Halstead ’11, who recently accepted a position as Engagement Services Manager at Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts! Molly, who double-majored in Asian Studies and Art History at Berea, studied in Japan through the KIIS program and assisted visiting scholar Dr. Sandy Kita in cataloging rare Japanese items in the College’s Asian art collection during her years here. After three years of professional experience as Curator and Art Gallery Manager at Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia’s David L. Dickirson Gallery in her native West Virginia, Molly returned to Kentucky to complete her M.A. in Art History and Visual Studies at the University of Kentucky. During the 2018-19 academic year, Molly served as Assistant Curator of the College Art Collections and Manager of the Doris Ulmann Galleries here on campus, so we are delighted that she will continue to remain in the area after completing her work at Berea.
Bereans in China, Summer 2019
Led by Dr. Jianfen Wang and Dr. Lauren McKee, eighteen Berea students are experiencing China this summer through the Berea International Summer Term (BIST) China program. While in China, not only have they visited many cultural and historical sites, but they also met with Berea alum Dylan Hunziker ’14, who serves as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Embassy in Beijing. 一路平安! Safe travels!
Kelly Williams ’07 Goes Global
Kelly Williams ’07, who has lived in Singapore since 2015, recently completed his Global Masters of Business Administration at the University of Manchester in England, earning a “pass with distinction” for his thesis work toward the degree. Now he is beginning a new career with the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmCham) as AmCham’s Director of Business Development and Operations. AmCham is the largest and the most active international business association in Singapore and Southeast Asia, with over 5,200 members representing more than 700 companies. After a decade of working in a variety of business-related fields in East Asia and Southeast Asia, Kelly continues to put his Asian Studies degree to work by taking care of business in Asia. Congratulations, Kelly!
The Asian Studies Department Congratulates May 2019 Graduates!
In May 2019, ten of our students will celebrate the end of their Berea College journeys:
Emma Batson ’19 (minor) will begin doctoral studies in clinical psychology with a specialization in child and adolescent psychology at Wheaton College. She hopes to put her Psy.D. to work by serving lower-income families in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia.
Anthony Gluck ’19 (major) will join the many other Bereans who have successfully competed for placements as English teachers in Japan with the JET Program.
Benjamin Hall ’19 (major) plans to relocate to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career and further education in theatre.
Caitlin Hodgson ’19 (minor) will return to her hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee to volunteer in its city archives and high school library. She plans to earn her master’s degree in library and information science and become a professional archivist.
Eunice Jijon Jarquin ’19 (major) has accepted a staff position with The Arete Project’s summer 2019 Glacier Bay Session, a summer program that enables students to live, study, and work at a remote field school stationed on an island archipelago near Glacier Bay National Park in southeast Alaska.
Continue reading The Asian Studies Department Congratulates May 2019 Graduates! →
Sarah Resnick Reid ’11 Wins Award for Excellence in Study Abroad Field
Sarah Resnick Reid ’11, who has worked in the study abroad field since 2015 and currently serves as Study Abroad Adviser at Western Michigan University (WMU), recently was honored for her contributions to this increasingly-computerized arena of higher education. The TerraDotta Innovation Award, of which Sarah is the 2019 recipient, recognizes excellence in the use of software to improve education abroad services to students. At WMU, where Sarah has been a staff member since 2016, her innovative use of computer resources has enabled WMU to automate many separate processes and increase the efficiency with which she and her colleagues serve WMU students as they plan and implement their education abroad experiences. Congratulations, Sarah!
Travis Felty ’21 to Intern at The Asia Institute
Travis Felty ’21
Congratulations to Travis Felty ’21, who has secured an internship at The Asia Institute, Inc., better known as Crane House to residents of Louisville, Kentucky, where the Asian cultural center is located! Crane House sponsors a wide variety of outreach programs aimed at promoting understanding and appreciation of all Asian cultures, as well as hosting exhibits of Asian art and artifacts, including items from its own extensive collection. A Bonner Scholar, Travis hopes that his summer as an intern at Crane House will help him combine his interests in Asian Studies, service-learning, and non-profit community organizations.
Olivia Cundiff ’18 Wins Grad School Scholarship
Congratulations to Olivia Cundiff ’18, who will begin the M.A. program in Asian Studies at George Washington University (GWU) this fall! “I really look forward to beginning my studies at GWU and continuing my Japanese language studies,” says Olivia. Supported by a U.S. Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, which provides a generous stipend in addition to covering the costs of tuition, Olivia plans to pursue a concentration in International Affairs and National Security, We ‘re very proud of you, Olivia!
Tae’Jah Jones ’21 Wins FEA Scholarship to Study in China
Congratulation to Tae’Jah Jones ’21, who has been awarded a full $10,000 scholarship by the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)! FEA makes life-changing international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. Having spent the last two years at Berea studying Chinese language, Tae’Jah will use her scholarship to spend fall term 2019 studying in Shanghai, China. We’re very proud of you, Tae’Jah!