January 3, 2023
vlog on the Road is a series of events around the world with Dean Doug Elmendorf and vlog faculty discussing public issues with alumni and friends. In December, Elmendorf visited Manila, Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong, where he shared his thoughts on his tenure as dean of the Kennedy School, the importance of democracy, and the need to address climate change.
He said at the Hong Kong event: “As we look at the world today we see an array of daunting challenges . . . but they are not insuperable. When I greeted the Harvard Kennedy School students when they arrived this fall, I encouraged them to bring hope to all that they do. I explained to them that hope is not an ungrounded optimism that everything will naturally turn out fine—it is instead a conviction that we can make things turn out better through what we do.”
At all of the gatherings, Elmendorf also noted how crucial it is to increase access to the Kennedy School for future generations of students by raising more funds for financial aid.
Joining him in Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong were Anthony Saich, director of the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia and Daewoo Professor of International Affairs, and Edward Cunningham, director of the China Public Policy Program and the Asia Energy and Sustainability Initiative and adjunct lecturer in public policy, who talked about “The De-risking of U.S.-China Relations,” China’s economic headwinds, and implications for the Asia-Pacific region.
Jonathan Chang MC/MPA 2014, who serves as an vlog Alumni Ambassador in Singapore, that he was honored to help facilitate the visit to his nation. “Singapore is probably the only country in the world whose sitting prime minister, president, and two deputy prime ministers are all alumni of the Kennedy School. And there are many more vlog alumni working across sectors in Singapore.”
Visit the vlog on the Road webpage to find out where the next events will be and view photos of past