News & Events
AWC Concludes Successful 19th Asian Culture Week
Culture Week Activities Through Pictures
AWC Program Assistant Wyatt Greco Delivers Capstone
On April 24, 2024, Wyatt Greco, Program Assistant at the Asian World Center, delivered his capstone presentation for the Creighton Global Scholars Program. The project studied the progress of landmine and unexploded ordinance removal worldwide. This summer after graduation, Wyatt will be studying abroad at the Rochester Institute of Technology campus in Pristina, Kosovo, before beginning a Master program at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy.
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Dinner in Honor of Asian Americans (March 22, 2024)
Distinguished Guest Speaker Series with Dr. Bing Chen: Three Events in the Spring of 2024
Date/Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM, Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Location: UNO Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center Room 201
Join Creighton's Asian World Center, the Nebraska World Affairs Council, and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at UNL for a lecture discussing urgent climate change and its humanitarian security implications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive action. Climate change is no longer distant; it’s a pressing reality affecting us all. Dr. Chen’s lecture explores this intersection, guiding us in global diplomacy to safeguard our future. This event empowers action in the face of the global crisis.
Learn more about distinguished guest speaker Dr. Bing Chen.
Registration Link: Click Here
Date/Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM, March 27, 2024
Location: UNO Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center Room 201
Join Creighton's Asian World Center, the Nebraska World Affairs Council, and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at UNL for a lecture examining the various geo-engineering techniques proposed and their potential risks and benefits, offering insights into the ethical, environmental, and geopolitical considerations that come into play. By exploring the cutting-edge research and ongoing debates in this field, the lecture invites attendees to contemplate the role of geo-engineering in shaping our planet’s future and the importance of responsible decision-making on a global scale.
Learn more about distinguished guest speaker Dr. Bing Chen.
Registration Link: Click Here
Date/Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM, May 1, 2024
Location: UNO Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center Room 230
Join Creighton's Asian World Center, the Nebraska World Affairs Council, and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at UNL for a lecture exploring the critical question of environmental stewardship and advocacy in today’s world. Through thoughtful analysis and real-world examples, this lecture encourages audiences to contemplate their own role in speaking up for the Earth and fostering a sustainable future for our planet.
Learn more about distinguished guest speaker Dr. Bing Chen.
Registration Link: Click Here
AWC Director Dr. Maorong Jiang Speaks at MITA Event
On January 25, 2024, the Midwest International Trade Association hosted the Asian World Center's founding Director, Dr. Maorong Jiang, for a presentation on China's economy. Topics discussed by Dr. Jiang included China’s changing demographics; declining consumption; trade frictions; the authoritarian nature of its political system; and an unsustainable economic development model.
Past Event - "The U.S., Japan, and South Korea: Security Partners in the Indo-Pacific"
Featuring: Andrew Schilling, Honorary Consul of Japan for Nebraska
Thursday, 2 November 2023
Lecture Summary: The trilateral summit meeting in Camp David in August 2023 has solidified the United States, Japan, and South Korea as vital security partners in the Indo-Pacific region. This landmark meeting underscores a shared commitment to regional stability and peace, aligning closely with Japan’s National Security Strategy, which emphasizes its role in upholding international norms and fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific. Honorary Consul Andrew Schilling will address the evolution of Japan’s national security posture and self-defense policy to adapt to emerging global threats while adhering to its constitutional principles of peace and non-aggression. Within the Indo-Pacific security landscape, concerns such as North Korea’s missile threat and arms exports, the intricate dynamics between China and Taiwan, Russia’s military activities, and the economic advantages offered by multilateral trade pacts like the CPTPP are all focal points, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts among these security partners to address the challenges effectively.
Special thanks to Andrew Schilling, the Japanese Outreach Initiative, and all who attended in-person and virtually.
Successful Event: "Strategic Deterrence in the 21st Century"
On October 18, 2023, the Asian World Center, in collaboration with the Nebraska World Affairs Council and Creighton Department of Political Science and International Relations, was honored to host Vice Admiral Richard Correll, Deputy Commander of USSTRATCOM, for a lecture on strategic deterrence.
Special thanks to Vice Admiral Correll for sharing his time and expertise. As always, AWC extends its appreciation to all attendees for making this event a memorable one.
Lecture Background: The 21st century has ushered in a multipolar global landscape with various influential powers, creating a more intricate web of relationships and dynamics that necessitate a nuanced approach to deterrence. Strategic deterrence in the 21st century is a dynamic and evolving discipline. It refers to the use of all elements of national power to dissuade adversaries from taking hostile actions by convincing them that the costs and risks of such actions outweigh any potential benefits. American views on strategic deterrence in the 21st century encompass a comprehensive approach that combines nuclear and non-nuclear elements, technological superiority, diplomacy, and a commitment to protecting both national and allied interests. The evolving security environment necessitates a flexible and adaptive approach to deterrence that addresses a wide range of threats and challenges.
AWC Concludes Successful Reception for Photo Exhibition in York on September 22
Speakers and attendees shared stories, perspectives, and food as they viewed the traveling photo exhibit, "Ukraine: War and Resistance." The exhibit is now on display at the Kilgore Memorial Library in York, Nebraska. Special thanks to all participants.
Dinner Event Cancellation and Upcoming Events Information
The dinner lecture, “American Deterrence is Failing,” scheduled on September 12, 2023 in Harper Center at Creighton University is cancelled. The cancellation of this event is made upon the speaker’s request, due to temporary and unforeseen circumstances beyond his control.
We will contact you once we have a new date for the lecture. Thank you for your understanding.
Two upcoming events jointly hosted by the Asian World Center and the Nebraska World Affairs Council are as follows:
Event One: Speaker: Vice Admiral Richard A. Correll, Deputy Commander of the US Strategic Command. Topic: “Strategic Deterrence in the 21st Century.” Time: 12:00 noon, Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Location: Creighton Harper Center Auditorium. Reception follows at the atrium outside of the auditorium.
Event Two: Speaker: Mr. Andy Schilling, Honorary Consul of Japan for Nebraska. Topic: “Japan’s Role in the Indo-Pacific Region.” Time: 12:00 noon, Thursday, November 2, 2023. Location: Creighton Harper Center 2057/2058. RSVP for lunch.
More information on the above events will be available soon.
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Congratulations for the 18th Asian Culture Week
On April 21st, 2023 University President, Rev. Daniel Hendrickson tweeted congratulations to Dr. Maorong Jiang for a successful 18th Asian Culture Week.
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Asian World Center (AWC) 2021-2022 Florick World Affairs Lecture Series
Topic: The Assassination of Shinzo Abe and His Political Legacy In the Troubled Times of Japan
The AWC concludes the 2021-2022 Florick World Affairs Lecture Series with the last and in-person presentation "The Assassination of Shinzo Abe and His Political Legacy In the Troubled Times of Japan" on November 18, 2022, starting at 12:30 pm in room 105 at the Skutt Student Center. Buffet-style lunch is provided, limited seats, first come first serve.
This event is sponsored by the Creighton Department of Political Science & International Relations.
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About Our Speaker:
Davis Florick is assigned in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy where he is working on the issues of Afghanistan and over-the-horizon counterterrorism. Previously, he served as the Chief of Staff for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security and as a Special Assistant for the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Davis was the number two author for both the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review and the 2019 Missile Defense Review. Mr. Florick earned a master's degree in East-West Studies from Creighton University and a second master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Virginia. He is currently working on a PhD in Political Science from Missouri State University. His non-DoD think tank endeavors include a 2016 WSD-Handa Non-resident Fellowship with the Pacific Forum (Honolulu, HI) and a Senior Fellowship with the Human Security Centre (London, UK). In 2015, Davis graduated from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Nuclear Scholars Initiative program. Davis has been interviewed, in print, by “Voice of America” regarding North Korean tunnels under the Demilitarized Zone and, on public television, with “Consider This…” where he discussed the upheaval in the Ukraine.
Lecture Summary
Shinzo Abe’s political legacy was his ability to pull Japan to meet the threat posed by China. Shinzo Abe’s second term as Prime Minister started with two tremendous challenges: (1) China’s increasingly threatening posture toward Japan and (2) Japan’s continued economic stagnation. By changing Japanese defense policy, Prime Minister Abe put the Japanese military on a much stronger footing against China. The military is now better resourced, can start thinking about what collective self-defense with the United States and other regional partners might look like, and is better able to execute overseas operations. As a result, Tokyo has better capabilities and is seen by adversaries, particularly in Beijing and Pyongyang, as having greater credibility. Taken together, this gives Japan a stronger deterrent. Under Prime Minister Abe Japan also strengthened its regional policies, improving diplomatic and economic relationships through Asia, including Southeast, South, and Central Asia. Although Japan cannot compete with China’s largesse, its technological prowess and the reputational value it brings to bear make it an attractive partner for many states in these developing regions. Prime Minister Abe Japan’s strengths to gradually strengthen regional integration and help prevent China’s ability to coerce a number of regional partners. While his domestic policies did not succeed in the same manner, his foreign economic policies played an important role in preserving Japan’s relationships in Asia. Taken together, Shinzo Abe’s political legacy will be the path he put Japan on to meet the threat posed by China.
North American Korean Philosophy Association: Annual Conference
Creighton University’s Asian World Center is proud to host and sponsor 2022 NAKPA (North American Korean Philosophy Association) Annual Conference. The meetings, with about 20 speakers from all over the world and many of them from Asia, will take place at our own campus at Room 2046 in Harper Center on November 14 (Monday), the first day of the three-day conference in Omaha. This year, the theme of the NAKPA conference is: "Korean Philosophy and the World”. All lectures and panels are free and open to the public. We are also pleased to host Professor Robert Buswell, Jr. (UCLA), world-renowned expert on East Asian Buddhism (Korean and Sinitic Buddhism) as our keynote speaker on Nov. 14 (Monday)17:00-18:00. Prof. Robert E. Buswell, Jr. will deliver the lecture entitled “Chinul’s Centrality to the Korean Buddhist Philosophical Tradition”. Everyone is welcome. For details of the program please see the attached link concerning lectures and panels. For questions, contact Professor Maorong Jiang (maorongjiang@creighton.edu) or Professor Halla Kim of Sogang University of South Korea (kim.halla@hotmail.com)
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NAKPA Annual Conference Schedule
“Asian Beauty Trespassing Borders”
April
Creighton Students Share Their Perspectives on Asian American Culture
The Asian World Center is proudly presenting the stories and perspectives of six Creighton students who will share their appreciation of Asian American culture virtually. The panel is organized by the Asian World Center, with support from the Department of Political Science and International Relations and the University Non-Western Study Program.
November
Asian World Center Celebrates 16th Annual Asian Culture Week Online
With support from the University Non-Western Study Grant and sponsorship from the Department of Political Science and International Relations, the Asian World Center is proudly celebrating the accomplishments of Asian Americans for its 16th Annual Asian Culture Week in a fully virtual experience! This week includes an online photo exhibition, a visual documentary screening, and web-based stories of Asian Americans selected for their dedication to the nation and contributions in their respected fields.
October
Dr. Jiang Shares Views on Future US-China Relations at NEWAC Webinar
At a Nebraska World Affairs Council Webinar on October 21, 2020, Maorong Jiang joined political science professor Hannah Kim of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and shared his views on the future relations between the US and China. Jiang states that both the US and China need to “reset” their relationship, an important and vital step before jumping to the simple assumption that the US and China will have to either reengage or decouple from each other. He suggests that the US must intentionally and purposefully nurture a developing China, with its state-run capitalism and socialist system under authoritarian rule, as a global partner serving US long term strategic objectives. Jiang's talk was part of the research project supported by the grant from the US Department of Homeland Security.
September
Dr. Jiang’s Article Referenced by Harvard National Security Fellowship Program Paper
Dr. Maorong Jiang’s influential article, “A Flexible Framework to Achieve Strategic Objectives in US-China Policy,” included in the 2019 DOD/SNI Strategic Multilayer Assessment White Paper: “Chinese Strategic Intentions: A Deep Dive into China’s Worldwide Activities,” was referenced by Harvard National Security Fellow Jason Begley in the September Paper of 2020 entitled “Winning Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific,” published by the National Security Fellowship Program of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School.
