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Dear students,
Welcome back. I hope you all had an enjoyable break and are re-charged for your classes and other activities at the School and the new term begins. As we look forward to the second term, I would like to share with you some of the recent developments in the School.
First of all, the two unique and multidisciplinary second majors : “Public Policy and Public Management” and “International and Asian Studies” have been successfully launched. A third one – “Arts and Cultural Management” is being launched this term. We are currently working towards establishing new international partnerships with leading universities for more learning opportunities and also on more internship opportunities for SOSS students.
This term will see a number of prominent scholars spending time at the School. I would like to draw your attention in particular to the following senior visitors: Professor Nancy L. Segal, from California State University (Jan 20-26), Professor Verlin B. Hinsz from North Dakota State University (Jan 27- Feb 2), Professor John Ikenberry from Princeton University (Jan 28 - Feb 2), Professor David Buss from the University of Texas, Austin (Feb 17-23), Professor Charles Hirschman from Washington University (March 17-23), and Professor Etel Solingen from University of California (April/May).
Professor Ikenberry, who is returning to SMU as a distinguished visitor after his successful visit last year, is one of the world’ most well-known international relations theorist whose ideas have influenced American foreign policy under the Obama administration. He will speak at a capstone seminar on January 30 and deliver a public lecture on “America’s Grand Strategy in Asia” on January 31. Professor Solingen who is President of the International Studies Association and University Chancellor University at UC, Irvine, will deliver the Celia Moh lecture in April/May. The School is inviting other distinguished senior scholars to SMU and we will provide the details once they are confirmed.
Let me turn to some good news regarding faculty members. Dr Angela Leung and Dr Forrest Zhang have been promoted as Associate Professors in their respective fields of Psychology and Sociology. Both Dr Leung and Dr Zhang are outstanding scholars and dedicated teachers. Please join me in congratulating them both for their well-deserved promotions.
I am also delighted that Dr Jiyoung Song, who taught the Introduction to Political and Policy Studies class last term as an adjunct faculty, has joined SOSS as Assistant Professor of Political Science. Dr Song completed her PhD at Cambridge University. Before joining us she was a visiting research scholar at the Asian Research Institute, the National University of Singapore. Her research focuses on irregular migration and human security in East Asia. She also works as UN Consultant for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and is Associate Fellow for the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in London.
We are fortunate to welcome a number of adjunct faculty this term including Ambassador K Kesavapany who is offering a course on History of Southeast Asia for our International and Asian Studies major. Ambassador Kesvapany, who just stepped down as Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, was Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1997 to 2002, Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva (concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Italy, 1991-1997) and Turkey, and is Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Finally, you may know that Associate Professor John Donaldson has been appointed Associate Dean for external relations. Associate Professor Tan Yoo Guan will continue to serve as Associate Dean responsible for learning and curriculum matters. With Dr. Donaldson on board, the School will be even more pro-active in reaching out to the wider community and in creating more internship and other learning opportunities for our students.
The Deans’ group with Dr. Donaldson, Dr. Tan, Ms. Leo Leng (Assistant Dean, Administration) and myself, would like to hear more from you. If you have any suggestions or initiatives do let us know. I look forward to interacting with all of you.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a most productive and successful 2013.
Best Regards,
Professor James T H Tang
Dean
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