NEWS
Kentucky Asian Studies Association Holds Annual Meeting
The Kentucky Asian Studies Association (KASA) held its fifth annual meeting Saturday, November 1 at the Jessamine County Technology Center in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Approximately 50 Kentuckians who study, teach or advocate for Asian Studies were in attendance.
The day began with remarks from Kentucky China Trade Center Managing Director David Snodgrass, who connected via Skype videoconference from China. Snodgrass briefed the group on the Kentucky China Trade Center's mission and offered support to the association in their efforts to make connections in China. In addition, he conducted a virtual tour of the Kentucky China Trade Center office in Beijing.
Jacque Van Houten, World Languages Specialist of the Kentucky Department of Education and Owens Saylor, Deputy Superintendent of Jessamine County Schools, talked about the Chinese language programs that exist in Kentucky and how to start one, noting that Jessamine County has built a strong Mandarin Chinese language program through the Kentucky Department of Education's Visiting Chinese Teacher Program. Michelle Peck Williams and Kevin Faris from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School presented a session on “Innovative Teaching about Asia in Kentucky's Secondary Schools.”
UK senior Patrick Conlon was the luncheon speaker. He shared thoughts on his recent experience in Dalian, China made possible by the Freeman Asia Program. Additional topics included creating Asian exchange programs at all levels and developments in Asian Studies at Kentucky institutions of higher education through new majors, new language programs and new courses.
The meeting was organized by the University of Kentucky's Asia Center. The Kentucky Asian Studies Association (KASA) is a group of those who study or teach about Asia at all levels of P-16 education through Kentucky, or who advocate for Asian Studies in community and government organizations. KASA holds a statewide meeting once a year for participants to share Asian Studies news from respective institutions, and to strategize ways to cooperatively build Asian Studies in Kentucky.
UK Senior Patrick Conlon shared his thoughts on a recent trip to China.