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About the Sigur Center for Asian Studies
The Sigur Center for Asian Studies is an international research center of The Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. Its mission is to increase the quality and broaden the scope of scholarly research and publications on Asian affairs, promote U.S.-Asian scholarly interaction and serve as the nexus for educating a new generation of students, scholars, analysts, and policymakers. The Center draws strength and resources from the world-class Asian Studies faculty within the university and in Washington, D.C. Not only is it the largest center for Asian studies in the capital region, The Center is also among the strongest in the United States.
The Center sponsors research projects, study groups, conferences, and lectures concerning Asian political, economic, and security issues. Lectures range from intimate “brown bag” talks that occur frequently throughout the year to the Annual Gaston Sigur Memorial Lecture honoring the Center’s namesake. Events address a variety of subjects and encompass a wide geographic area, stretching from Pakistan to Indonesia. Past Sigur Center conferences have included U.S. negotiations on the Korean Peninsula, cross-Straits relations, and the rising power of India and China.
The Visiting Scholar/Visiting Research Associate Program is another key facet of The Center’s research and outreach. The program welcomes eminent scholars and top policy planners from universities and government organizations. Visiting Scholars utilize their time at The Center to pursue their own research goals, taking advantage of all that the University and, indeed, Washington has to offer. The Center has recently welcomed scholars from Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Germany, India, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
The Center is also home to the Asian Studies Program, which administers the BA and MA degree programs in Asian Studies. The Center’s dual research and education mandate enriches students’ experience by supplementing the strengths of the teaching faculty with the vibrant research and outreach activities detailed above.Mission Statement
The Sigur Center is guided by the following institutional goals:
- Integrate the many Asia-related activities and resources at the George Washington University to the benefit of the university, public, and scholarly communities.
- Provide a primary institution in the nation's capital for educating a new generation of students, scholars, analysts, and policymakers, preparing them to take advantage of the rapidly expanding role of Asia and the Pacific Rim in world affairs.
- Facilitate the teaching and research of George Washington University faculty members who are interested in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Support graduate and undergraduate study in Asian Studies through scholarships, research assistantships, and research grants.
- Increase the quality and broaden the scope of scholarly research and publication on Asian Affairs and enhance the interaction and exchange of both faculty and students with universities and institutions in Asia.
- Establish an enduring legacy honoring Dr. Gaston J. Sigur, in recognition of his contributions to Asian affairs as a faculty member of The George Washington University and in service to the United States government.
Dr. Gaston J. Sigur
Dr. Gaston J. Sigur (1924-1995), an accomplished specialist on Japan and the international relations of East Asia, with a distinguished career in both academe and public service, created the Sigur Center in 1991. After receiving his doctorate in Japanese history at the University of Michigan, he joined The George Washington University faculty in 1972. Originally trained as a specialist in foreign relations of the Tokugawa era, he spent most of his career as an analyst of contemporary Asia. At the University he served as Director of the Sino-Soviet Institute and as a professor of International Affairs. During the Reagan administration, Professor Sigur served as Director of Asian Affairs on the National Security Council and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific.Contact Information
Dr. Deepa Ollapally, Acting Director of The Sigur Center and Director of the Asian Studies Program
Ikuko Turner, Financial/Office Manager
1957 E Street, NW, Suite 503
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: (202) 994-5886
Fax: (202) 994-6096
Email: gsigur@gwu.edu