Early in the fall quarter, the Southeast Asia Center, the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, the Michael G. Foster School of Business Global Business Center, and the University of Washington Office of Global Affairs hosted a panel discussion with the U.S. Ambassadors to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, four of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ambassadors, the Honorable Robert O. Blake, Jr. (Indonesia), the Honorable Philip S. Goldberg (the Philippines), the Honorable Ted Osius (Viet Nam), and the Honorable Joseph Y. Yun (Malaysia) were be joined by Alexander Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council. The group presented briefs on the nations where they serve, the history of US diplomacy with those nations, and commented on their experiences. Responses were provided UW faculty from the Foster School of Business and the Jackson School of International Studies, with Professor Laurie Sears moderating and Resat Kasaba, Director of the Jackson School of International Studies, opening the event.
The formal event was followed by the Southeast Asia Center Fall Reception, welcoming new students and allowing old and new students, faculty, and staff time to speak privately with the ambassadors and discuss issues and interests in Southeast Asia.