APARC 40th
"My time at APARC in 2013 was filled with real people and real meetings, it all gave me the inspiration to pursue a book that I finished during my 2021-22 stay, which was totally different due to COVID protocols. So this second time was full of pixelated people and meetings. But it provided a great environment to write. I'll always be grateful to APARC for the opportunity to pursue my research."
— Carl Walter, Visiting Scholar, Fall-Winter 2021-22 and Winter 2013
I had a wonderful and productive time at APARC (not just because of the California sunshine!). All the faculty and fellows were so supportive of my academic pursuit. I remember that I was on the academic job market when I was a postdoc at APARC and everyone helped me so much by offering comments on my working papers and attending my practice job talks multiple times. APARC truly felt like family.
— Ketian Zhang, 2018-2019 Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellow on Contemporary Asia
My time at Stanford gave me the opportunity to be exposed to perspectives and knowledge of political economy, society, and culture that are very different from those of my work. It was also a valuable experience for me to meet wonderful colleagues from various fields.
— Yoshihiro Kato, 2017-18 Global Affiliate Visiting Fellow
As I acknowledged in the book that I wrote at APARC, every day in Palo Alto that fall was a good one. It was a privilege. I remember that time so fondly. The seminars throughout the building and all over campus enriched my research, and learning about what my colleagues were doing was inspiring. I continue to be in contact with friends I made there. Honestly, even after all this time, I am still using tips and leads that I probably picked up in a random office pop-in or hallway conversation.
— Gerald Sim, 2016-17 Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Fellow on Southeast Asia
Visiting APARC has been one of the highlights of my career. The atmosphere and memory at Stanford, filled with enormous intellectual joy and cherished friendship, have always inspired me to explore new frontiers and facilitate my professional development ever since. I sincerely congratulate the 40th anniversary of APARC and wish it a promising and prosperous future.
— Xiuxiao Wang, 2016-17 Visiting Scholar
As a Military Fellow at Stanford, I did everything I could to learn, grow, and contribute to the program. Most of all, I got to know all the wonderful men and women of the Asia-Pacific Research Center: staff, faculty, fellows, and students. Thank you for blessing my life with a wonderful experience and great memories!
— John Chu, 2015-16 Senior Military Fellow
It was a unique opportunity to spend a year at Stanford and meet with professors and visitors in APARC’s interdisciplinary setting. My experience there stimulated my research interests and expanded my horizons.
— Shuichiro Nishioka, 2015-16 Visiting Scholar
My Stanford days were full of memories and I got an incredible mentor of my lifetime, Prof. Karen Eggleston.
— Phyu Phyu Thin Zaw, 2015-16 Asia Health Policy Postdoctoral Fellow
The experience at APARC, such as the lecture series by Prof. Ezra Vogel, gave me a multifaceted perspective on geopolitical risks and issues related to economics, diplomacy, and defense.
— Kenji Yanada, 2013-14 Global Affiliate Visiting Fellows
Professor Shin was a most gracious and generous host when I arrived at APARC on sabbatical leave from Tokyo. I quickly met another scholar on leave from Japan who was working on a project with Stanford faculty. The eventual collaboration not only produced an award-winning article, but a great friendship. My time at the Center and scholarly interactions remain as happy memories and I wish everyone at APARC all the best as it embarks on another 40 years of excellence!
— Christian Collet, 2012-13 Visiting Associate Professor
The research I conducted at APARC has guided my work in the natural gas industry and capital market over the following decade. I miss those days when I stayed in the office until midnight! Thanks, APARC, and Happy 40th Anniversary!
— Mao Xie, 2012-13 Global Affiliate Visiting Fellow
The Shorenstein APARC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Contemporary Asia changed the trajectory of my career. It provided me with the time and space to develop my dissertation into an award-winning book. APARC supported me as I entered the academic job market. And Stanford gave me the visibility to compete for jobs like mine at Boston University. I would not have been competitive for this job without APARC’s support. For those reasons and many more, I’ll be eternally grateful to everyone at APARC.
— Jeremy Menchik, 2011-12 Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellow on Contemporary Asia
In November 2011, after a 5-year assignment for the Swiss Government, resident in Pyongyang, I was invited to APARC as a Pantech Fellow. From North Korea to Stanford was quite an extraordinary progression! The opportunity to meet and interact with world experts in related fields, attend presentations, and participate in workshops of immediate or future importance, was an immensely rewarding experience. It was a particular pleasure to also be able to give classes to students about the daily life of ordinary people in the DPRK: they were eager to learn as much as possible about 'The Hermit Kingdom' and I in turn learned much from their responses. APARC is a vital and supportive community — after the restrictions and limitations of the DPRK, it was a joyful and meaningful experience!
— Katharina Zellweger, 2011-12 Pantech Fellow and 2013 Visiting Scholar
It was such a privilege to spend time surrounded by clever, questioning, and engaged people. I doubt that my book would ever have been written were it not for APARC! I certainly cannot think of anywhere where I should rather have written it — Stanford's libraries and helpful staff were a huge help.
— John Everard, 2010-11 Pantech Fellow
Author of Only Beautiful, Please: A British Diplomat in North Korea (2012, Shorenstein APARC)
I had a very productive and fun time at APARC. I truly enjoyed seminars on various topics with great scholars from around the world. Stanford is beautiful with excellent resources. The Bay Area also offered great experiences for visitors. APARC staff were very kind and helpful which made my time there much more enjoyable. Thanks so much.
— Puangthong Pawakapan, 2010-11 Shorenstein APARC–Asia Foundation Research Fellow
My memory is of how wonderful and welcoming Bill Miller and Harry Rowen were. Talking with them was such a pleasure. Of course, Masa Aoki and Rafiq Dossani were also wonderful hosts. It was a high point of my career to be there in Encina Hall!
— Martin Kenney, 2008-9 Visiting Scholar
My stay at Stanford has changed my mindset and future. Thanks to many inspiring events and friends, I was able to determine what I should do in my life.
— Daisuke Maeda, 2008-9 Global Affiliate Visiting Fellow
My strongest memories are of the two talks I gave and a conference I co-organized while at APARC, where interesting people actively engaged with my research presentation and the conference topic. Don Emmerson of the Southeast Asia Program was the perfect host. I also remember debating with Henry Rowen about the Singaporean model and the future of democracy in China. Besides learning a great deal about the region of my primary research focus, Southeast Asia, being part of a truly global scholarly community is my most lasting memory.
— Mark Thompson, 2008-9 Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Fellow on Southeast Asia
The open space arrangement at APARC facilitated many informal conversations with other fellows and APARC faculty. Through these conversations, I was able to develop half-baked ideas which then became central to my writing at the time. I remember thinking this is the ideal academic community: a place where many people with different training and disciplinary backgrounds can come together to share their ideas and expertise. The APARC fellowship was a formative year for me and I will always be grateful!
— Paul Chang, 2006-7 Predoctoral Fellow
My stay at APARC was full of eye-opening experiences. There were numerous discussions and insights on international issues that I had not considered before joining APARC.
— Tetsuro Yogo, 2005-6 Global Affiliate Visiting Fellow
I loved the numerous speakers and events, and all the visiting fellows. So much to learn and so many interesting people to meet.
— David Kang, 2005-7 Visiting Professor
My memories from APARC: Late nights in the graduate student cubicles working alongside colleagues. Listening to bluegrass music in Mike Oksenberg's office, then to ukulele music in Dan Okimoto's office. The fantastic graduate seminar the term Steve Goldstein was there as a visiting scholar.
— Kay Shimizu, 2004-5 Takahashi Predoctoral Fellow
The year I spent at APARC was a precious time for me to get to know lots of impressive people. Innovators, venture capitalists, and government officials, some of whom are still connected to me now and have made fruitful contributions to my company and my life.
— Takashi Imoto, 1998-99 Global Affiliate Visiting Fellow