New name for the Asia-Pacific Research Center

In a gala dinner in Stanford's Bechtel Conference Center on May 31, 2005, the Asia-Pacific Research Center announced that it would be renamed the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, in honor of its longtime benefactor.

Warmly praising the announcement, Stanford president John Hennessy, Freeman Spogli Institute director Coit D. Blacker, APARC founder Daniel I. Okimoto, and outgoing APARC director Andrew G. Walder each spoke of Shorenstein's clear vision for and unwavering commitment to the affairs of the Asia-Pacific region. Walder, in particular, looked to the future that Shorenstein's gift made possible, both for the renamed center and for Stanford. "This new gift comes at a crucial point in APARC's development," he noted. "It symbolizes Stanford's rededication to the vital study of contemporary Asian affairs. It also signals to our peers that Stanford has committed itself to the major effort that will be necessary, and it challenges the university to commit itself to reinvigorating and reinventing Stanford's strengths on the region."

The change will be effective September 1, 2005. Gi-Wook Shin will assume directorship of the renamed center on the same date.