U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation Thanks Outgoing Board Members and Welcomes New Directors
The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation expresses its deep appreciation to five departing members of its Board of Directors who contributed years of voluntary service to the foundation advancing U.S.-Japan friendship by making it possible for increased numbers of American undergraduates to study abroad in Japan.
The five departing members are Dr. Patricia Maclachlan, Professor of Government and Asian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Deanna Marcum, Senior Advisor at Ithaka S+R; Dr. Sam Morse, Professor of the History of Art and Asian Languages and Civilizations at Amherst College, Dr. Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR); and Mr. George Takei, actor, social justice activist, social media mega-power, and best-selling author.
Dr. Smith will continue to serve as chair of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUFSC) and the U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON). Dr. Maclachlan, Dr. Morse, and Dr. Marcum remain JUSFC commissioners and CULCON panelists.
The foundation marked several important milestones during the tenures these members served on the Board. The total number of scholarships awarded to U.S. undergraduates surpassed 2,000 for a combined value of more than $7,300,000. The foundation broadened its applicant pool to 65 U.S. colleges in 30 states and continued to diversify its scholarship awardees. Last year, 37% of grant recipients received Pell grants, indicating strong financial need; 50% identified as Black, Asian, or Hispanic; 3% attended HBCUs; and 55% were women.
The foundation welcomes two new board members, Mr. Mark Davidson, Director of Government and External Affairs at Amway Japan G.K., and Mr. David Janes, Senior Advisor to the President at the Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and Managing Director of OIST Foundation.
A career diplomat with 28 years of experience in the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Davidson served in Japan four times, including as U.S. Embassy Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, Cultural Attaché, and Director of the American Centers in Tokyo and Sapporo. Mr. Davidson has been Chair of the Fulbright Commissions in Japan, Pakistan, and Paraguay, and was a member of the CULCON U.S-Japan Education Task Force.
In his role as Senior Advisor for Institutional Development at OIST, Mr. Janes leads development efforts in the United States and assists OIST in connecting to the U.S.-Japan world. Previously, Mr. Janes was Director of Foundation Grants and Assistant to the President at the United States-Japan Foundation. He founded the Foundation’s Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Awards, conceived of Stanford University’s Reischauer Scholars Program, and is co-founder and Chair of the Board of EngageAsia.
The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation is grateful to Patti, Deanna, Sam, Sheila, and George for their leadership, stewardship, and friendship, and welcomes Mark and David to their new roles.