International Master‵s Program in Asia-Pacific Studies

  Alumna Cleisha-Bernise Springer (克莉沙) is a former IMAS student working at the Embassy of Saint Lucia in Taiwan as Second Secretary. She encourages our international students to step out of their comfort zone and explore Taiwan outside of the regular classroom. Diving into Taiwanese culture and interacting with locals give a deeper understanding of Taiwan as a whole.   Watch her full message in the video below.  

Ian Easton is the Senior Director of the Project 2049 Institute and an alumnus who graduated with an M.A. in China Studies from the IMAS program at NCCU in 2008. The courses and professors in IMAS greatly shaped his career in becoming a Strategic Security Analyst conducting research on defense and security issues in Asia. His work has been featured in major U.S. and Asian media outlets, such as the New York Times, Reuters, Huffington Post, NHK, CCTV, and the Taipei Times. He is also the author of “The Chinese Invasion Threat: Taiwan’s Defense and American Strategy in Asia”. Ian wishes our IMAS students great success in their studies! View Ian’s publications here. Watch his personal video message!   

A View from the Mountain: Reflections on My Studies in IMAS When I first entered my dorm at National Chengchi University, I was greeted to a view overlooking the verdant foliage of Muzha. Thanks to the plethora of opportunities at NCCU, my view also broadened metaphorically over the ensuing years, bringing me in contact with exciting new topics and ways of thinking that have deeply affected my intellectual development. In IMAS conferences, I traveled throughout Taiwan, where I exchanged my research with local students in locations like the outlying island of Matsu and the bustling port city of Keelung. The NCCU Mandarin training center, conveniently located five minutes from the dorms, made it possible to attain advanced Chinese skills within two years. Meanwhile Taipei has access to rich archival sources that became the basis of my master’s thesis. Diversity is indeed the defining characteristic of IMAS. As a top institution in international relations, NCCU is frequently visited by important political figures. I remember fondly when I had the pleasure of eating a lunch with the ambassador from Somaliland! With great political and international connections, IMAS puts its students in contact with a world of opportunities.    Socially, I made some of my best friends while studying in Taiwan. Shared spaces in the NCCU dorms create strong community and tradition, such as viewing the New Year’s fireworks at Taipei 101 from the Arts and Culture deck (the view from the mountains really cannot be beat). Taipei’s wonderful public transit system also connects students with fun opportunities throughout the city. I personally spent most of my weekend mornings rowing Dragon Boat on the river in Xindian, which is just a short 30-minute bus ride from the back gate of campus.    The academic and social influences I encountered in IMAS fundamentally changed my outlook. I entered NCCU as a Japan specialist, but meeting Taiwanese people and using local archives made me into a transnational researcher who is better able to incorporate diverse viewpoints into my writing. The perspective I gained in IMAS is the foundation of my current doctoral research work at the University of Pennsylvania. As an experience that critically contributed to my intellectual growth, IMAS is a program I would recommend to all curious and adventurous researchers.   Julian stands in front of the University of Pennsylvania Crest in Penn Commons Students from IMAS and National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) enjoy a meal at a famous local seaweed restaurant in Keelung after NTOU-IMAS conference.

Dana Lockridge, a Commissioner for the City of San Antonio and a Personnel Management Analyst for the U.S. Army’s 106 Signal Brigade in San Antonio, Texas, USA, delivers an inspiring speech at the CSS Commencement Ceremony.  She takes the stage as the proud mother of Faith Woods, an  IMAS student who is a Student Representative of the second year.  In her speech, she shares profound insights and motivates the graduating class with her words of wisdom. Watch her full speech in the video below. Graduation Speech for the NCCU Graduating Class of 2023 by Dana Lockridge It is a great privilege to address you today, graduates, faculty, and family, on a day that marks one of the most important accomplishments of your life. My name is Dana Lockridge, and I am a Management Analyst for the United States Army, serving at the 106th Brigade Command. Additionally, I serve my city as the Commissioner for District 2 in San Antonio, Texas. However, most importantly, I am the proud mother of Ms. Faith Yvette Woods, one of today’s graduates. Maya Angelou once said, “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” I have always embraced this principle in life and parenting, and it has been an exhilarating experience to see my daughter fearlessly take on the challenges of a new country and culture. Seeing her embrace every moment with an open heart confirms that Maya Angelou’s wisdom still holds true. NCCU is a magical place, where the dynamics of differences and uniqueness seem to exist in extremes. I remember the day I sent my daughter Faith off to Taiwan. As I waved goodbye to her, I hoped that she would remember my teachings on embracing differences and never being afraid to showcase her uniqueness. I encouraged her to normalize diversity and to not shy away from standing out, whether in appearance or personality. The magnificence of humanity lies in our multitude of ways of being. By equipping her with the light and love to thrive in a world that may not always reciprocate the same good intentions, I prayed that Taiwan would embrace her for all that she is. I walked away thrilled for her and for life. In that moment, to the amazement of our loved ones, my daughter was heading to a faraway land to live and study. I walked away confident that I had prepared her to take on the world. As the scripture in Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The magic of Taiwan is that almost anything can happen. I have witnessed it in the life of my daughter and even during my visit here. I draw upon the wisdom of Nelson Mandela when he says, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” The difference we make in the lives of others—our families, friends, and even strangers we have met—defines who we are. Therefore, graduates, I challenge you to embrace your differences and confidently embark on your next adventure, knowing that your momentum inspires those around you. I would like to express my gratitude to National Chengchi University and the International Master’s Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IMAS), under the directorship of Dr. Liu, for embracing the uniqueness that my daughter and our culture bring to the great nation of Taiwan. To the graduating class of 2023, I urge you to savor this moment and this great day as you emerge ready to change the world. Dream big for your life, for there has never been anyone like you, and there never will be. Do not let your dreams be hindered by the pressures of tradition. Always embrace who you are and the unique qualities that you and others bring to this world. In doing so, you will discover your divine purpose in the fulfillment of your goals. Now, this is your time. The light of new opportunities shines upon you. Go forth with purpose and a sense of pride in your accomplishments. Do it in your own unique way, leaving no room for regrets. Thank you.