SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

About Us...

The Southeast Asia Center promotes and sustains the study of Southeast Asia and encourages understanding of Southeast Asia in the Pacific Northwest and the nation. We pursue this mission by offering language study and courses in various disciplines that focus on Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian languages offered on a regular basis by the University of Washington include Indonesian, Khmer, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese as well as the self-study of Burmese. The Southeast Asia Center actively organizes Southeast Asia-related programs such as teacher training, outreach activities and an accessible resource library that includes: print materials, microfilm, maps, and instructional media materials. These activities of the Center are assisted by funding from the University of Washington and the U.S. Department of Education.

A US Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center for Southeast Asian Studies in the Pacific Northwest, the Southeast Asia Center is housed in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies where along with seven other area study centers, it fosters cooperative efforts in teacher training and outreach. The Southeast Asia Center's interdisciplinary academic programs include a BA and MA in International Studies with a Southeast Asian Concentration as well as PhD and professional degrees involving area concentrations and research in Southeast Asia.

The Center's forty core and affiliate faculty come from the College of Arts and Sciences as well as various UW professional colleges. The Center's directorship rotates among core UW faculty. The Associate Director is a professional UW staff member who manages the daily operations of the Center along with oversight from the Director and faculty. The Center depends greatly on the contributions of student assistants, part-time staff, and university and community volunteers.

-Laurie J. Sears
Chair, Southeast Asian Studies 

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