About Us

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 conferences and lectures on a wide array of Asian topics, with particular attention played to policy issues . Lectures range from intimate "brown bag" talks that occur frequently throughout the year to the Annual Gaston Sigur Memorial Lecture featuring a leading scholar of Asian affairs. We also host musical events as well as meetings with authors of fiction. Although the majority of our events address East Asian issues, we are expanding coverage of South and Southeast Asia. Past 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 welcomes eminent scholars and top policy planners from universities and government organizations. The Center has recently welcomed scholars from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, and Poland.

The Center is also home to the Asian Studies Program, which administers the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts programs in Asian Studies. The Center's dual research and education mandate enriches students' experience by supplementing the strengths of the teaching faculty with extensive research and outreach activities.

Mission Statement

The Sigur Center aims to:

• Integrate the many Asia-related activities and resources at the George Washington University to the benefit of the university, public, and scholarly communities.
• Educate a new generation of students, scholars, analysts, and policymakers, preparing them to take advantage of the rapidly expanding role of Asia in world affairs.
• Facilitate the teaching and research of George Washington University faculty members who are interested in Asia.
• Support graduate and undergraduate study in Asian Studies through scholarships, research assistantships, and research and language study grants.
• Increase the quality and broaden the scope of scholarly research and publication on Asian Affairs.
• Promote the interaction and exchange of 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 academic and public service, created the Sigur Center in 1991. After receiving his doctorate in Japanese history at the University of Michigan, Dr. Sigur 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

Professor Shawn McHale, Director of the Sigur Center and Director of the Asian Studies Program
Phone: 202.994.2760
Email: mchale@gwu.edu

Deepa Ollapally, Associate Director of the Sigur Center
Phone: 202.994.8854
Email: deepao@gwu.edu

Nikola Mirilovic, Research Associate
Phone: 202.994.8841
Email: nikolam@gwu.edu

Matt Grieger, Executive Associate/Office Manager
Phone: 202.994.4360
Email: mgrieger@gwu.edu

Erin Robinson, Executive Assistant/Program Coordinator
Phone: 202.994.5874
Email: robin_ee@gwu.edu

Sigur Center for Asian Studies
1957 E Street, NW, Suite 503
Washington, DC 20052

Phone: 202.994.5886
Fax: 202.994.6096
Email: gsigur@gwu.edu

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