Leadership Trip to Hong Kong and Shanghai Highlights Georgetown’s Role in Promoting International Dialogue
In November 2024, Walsh School of Foreign Service Dean Joel Hellman and Vice President for Global Engagement Thomas Banchoff traveled to Hong Kong and Shanghai to engage with the growing community of alumni, parents, and friends of Georgetown University in the region. The visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of academic institutions like Georgetown in fostering dialogue and understanding between the United States and Asia.
Recognizing Alumni Contributions in Hong Kong
Hellman and Banchoff’s visit to Hong Kong was the fifth such visit by Georgetown leadership since May 2023—signaling Hong Kong’s strong, and growing, ties to the Hilltop. They began their trip by attending a reception hosted by Alvina Chan (SFS’02) for alumni, parents, and friends of Georgetown. Christine Meyer, the U.S. acting deputy consul in Hong Kong and Macau, attended as a special guest. As the trip coincided with the conclusion of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Hellman shared his appreciation for the interesting conversations with alumni regarding how the election may impact Asia.
"The trip was a great opportunity to hear from our Asian alumni at a critical global moment."
The two leaders also attended an appreciation lunch hosted by Ed (C’95) and Erin Sippel (P’25, P’27) to thank the volunteers who serve as officers of the Georgetown Club of Hong Kong, including Peter Kuo (SFS’93, P’27), the current president of the club, and those who are Alumni Admissions Program volunteers. Georgetown’s Alumni Admissions Program is a worldwide alumni volunteer organization that coordinates and conducts the interview process for first-year and transfer applicants to Georgetown. In the Asia-Pacific region, there are Alumni Admissions Program volunteers in several countries, including Singapore and China.
Focusing on Cross-Cultural Understanding in Shanghai
In Shanghai, Hellman and Banchoff attended a reception hosted by Wei Zhu (SFS’86, P'27) and Jane Xu (P’27), which engaged many members of the newly established Georgetown Club of Shanghai. Having recently visited with alumni in Shanghai in May 2024, Banchoff enjoyed returning to the city for the club’s official launch. He reflected on the strength of Georgetown’s eight alumni clubs in the region, which are strongly committed to supporting Georgetown’s academic mission ad raising the university’s profile in Asia.
"Our alumni in the Asia-Pacific region have diverse interests and impressive professional expertise that make vital contributions to our global Georgetown community."
During the reception, Renée Gallant (G’17), Georgetown’s representative in Asia, moderated a panel discussion on Georgetown’s unique role in education, business, and global affairs with Hellman, Banchoff, and Zhu. In their remarks, Hellman highlighted initiatives within the School of Foreign Service that enhance cross-cultural understanding among students and alumni, while Banchoff emphasized the importance of Georgetown’s global network in supporting the university’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and service to the world.
U.S. Consul General for Shanghai Scott Walker also attended the reception as a special guest and remarked on shared goals in promoting international dialogue, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding between East and West. The event concluded with Eric Zheng (B’99, P’26), president of AmCham Shanghai, emphasizing the importance of a Georgetown education in preparing future leaders to navigate the complexities of global business and foster cross-cultural connections.
Expanding Upon A Rich History of Academic Engagement Across Asia
For many years, Georgetown and its schools have actively engaged with Asia through research, teaching and dialogue around pressing issues. Since 2016, for example, Georgetown has hosted the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues, a university platform for research, teaching, and high-level dialogue among American and Chinese leaders from the public sector, business, and the academy that addresses common global challenges.
Looking forward, in January 2024 Georgetown will launch Georgetown SFS Asia-Pacific (GSAP), its new location in Jakarta, Indonesia. To begin, GSAP will offer an executive master in diplomacy and international affairs program. Developed by Georgetown’s Asian Studies Program and Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, in close consultation with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance’s LPDP Scholarship Program, the program's curriculum is tailored to the needs of international affairs practitioners in the Asia-Pacific and designed to cultivate future leaders in the region.