Center for Southeast Asian Studies > Careers in Asia-Pacific Affairs (CAPA) Initiative

Careers in Asia-Pacific Affairs (CAPA) Initiative

Funded by Title VI through the U.S. Department of Education and co-sponsored by the School of Pacific and Asian Studies (SPAS), Careers in Asia-Pacific Affairs (CAPA) initiative is a collaborative effort across multiple centers and departments, including Departments of Asian Studies and Pacific Islands Studies, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Center for Pacific Island Studies, the Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs, and the East Asia National Resource Center in SPAS, to prepare students for dynamic careers that require expertise in the Asia-Pacific region.

Latest Updates

Careers in Asia-Pacific Affairs (CAPA) Initiative Speaker Series

The Careers in Asia-Pacific Affairs Speaker Series is part of the broader CAPA initiative bringing speakers from different professions to campus to build bridges between students and future prospective employers.

Check out the recent installments of the CAPA speaker series:

2024

The Year(s) That Changed My Life: The Lasting Value of Overseas Public Service Experience
Speakers: Jim Diegel (Peace Corps Alum); Foley C. Pfalzgraf (AmeriCorps Alum); Kelsey Uehira (JET Program Alum); and Andrea S. D. Hazzard (Jesuit Volunteer Corps Alum)

International Education Careers: Nothing Adventured, Nothing Attained
Speakers: Mayco A. Santaella (Professor & Acting Dean, Sunway University); Dawn Lovig (Music Educator); and Greg Stock (Teacher, Green School Bali)

A Conversation with Dr. James Viernes and Ulamila Cagivanua

Speakers: Dr. James Viernes (Deputy Director, Pacific Islands Development Program) and Ulamila Cagivanua (Pacific Islands Development Program)

Working with Climate Change and Sustainability in the Asia-Pacific
Speaker: Ken Haig (Head, Energy & Environmental Policy, Asia-Pacific & Japan, Amazon Web Services)

2023

Diplomat and Special Agent: From Kailua to the Foreign Service
Speaker: Larry Chun (Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, US Department of State)

Public Diplomacy: Telling America’s Story, Connecting People, and Shaping Foreign Policy
Speaker: Mireille Zieseniss (Public Diplomacy Advisor, US Indo-Pacific Command)

Think Tank Careers: Policy, Communications, and Project Management
Speakers: Elina Noor (Senior Fellow, Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment of International Peace); Keoni Williams (Information and Publications Officer, Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center); Jesslyn Cheong (Senior Program Officer, Pacific Forum International)