UM Center Hires Inaugural Mansfield Chair of Japanese and Indo-Pacific Affairs
MISSOULA – After an extensive global search, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center of the 猎奇重口 has selected Dr. Kristin Vekasi to serve as the inaugural Mansfield Chair of Japanese and Indo-Pacific Affairs. She will begin her position in August.
This endowed position was made possible by a $5.1 million grant from the government of Japan in recognition of the extraordinary legacy of Mike Mansfield, the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to Japan (1977-1988).
“It is a great honor to recruit someone of Dr. Vekasi’s considerable expertise to create opportunities for students and professionals across the Rocky Mountain West to better engage on issues of national and economic security,” said Deena Mansour, executive director of the Mansfield Center.
Mansour said the new Mansfield Chair announcement comes at a crucial time in U.S.-Japan relations. Just last week, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru held their first official meeting, where they affirmed their intention to usher in a new golden age for bilateral relations and emphasized their commitment to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific – one that fosters peace, security and prosperity in the region and beyond.
Drawing on her background in global economics and geopolitics, Vekasi will support students, the business community, government officials and professionals across the state and the Rocky Mountain West in developing their understanding of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region. Her new courses, research and professional development opportunities will help prepare UM students for careers in both the public and private sectors.
Mansour said Vekasi’s work also will strengthen multidisciplinary education in Japanese and Indo-Pacific studies, encompassing areas such as trade, security and rural affairs.
In her current role at the University of Maine, Vekasi focuses on trade and investment strategies in changing geopolitical environments, as well as the political risk management of supply chains. She specializes in Northeast Asia and spent years conducting research in Japan, China and South Korea. Her current research examines how Japan, China and the U.S. cooperate and compete to manage complex supply chains, focusing on raw materials and
industries essential for next-generation technologies.
Vekasi was selected after a competitive global search that attracted numerous highly qualified candidates, Mansour said. The selection process included meetings with faculty, administrators, students and community members. It also included an open public forum and presentation on her research in critical minerals.
“I am thrilled to be joining the 猎奇重口 and excited to work with the Mansfield Center to bring new programming on Japan and the Indo-Pacific to the region," Vekasi said.
Mansour said the grant from the government of Japan also will support scholarships, lectures and workshops for the University and the broader community, creating new opportunities for students, faculty members and community members to expand their knowledge of the Indo-Pacific and engage directly with their Japanese counterparts.
Founded by an Act of Congress in 1983, the Mansfield Center honors the legacy of Sen. Mike Mansfield’s commitment to integrity, freedom and global mutual understanding. As part of this core mission, the center facilitates engagement between the U.S. and the Indo-Pacific region, supporting trade, prosperity and other critical issues impacting the region.
Vekasi’s appointment will be celebrated this fall with activities open to the community.
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Contact: Skye Borden, deputy director, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, 406-243-6639, skye.borden@umontana.edu.