WAA presents global achievement award

The Wisconsin Alumni Association will present its first Distinguished Alumni Global Achievement Award this Friday, Dec. 1, to Hung-mao Tien, foreign minister of Taiwan.

Tien, who completed his Ph.D. in political science at UW–Madison in 1970, is the first to receive this distinguished honor. As an academic, he specialized in topics of democratization and nation building in China and Taiwan. Since that time, he has been actively involved in foreign affairs and diplomacy as an expert in international relations in the Asia-Pacific. He has been published extensively, invited to speak regularly by key foreign affairs think tanks, and has lectured on the politics of China and Taiwan at prestigious institutions throughout the world.

“It is with great pride that we recognize Dr. Tien and his remarkable career,” says Paula Bonner, executive director of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. “On the heels of a successful Asia 2000 conference in Bangkok, we want to emphasize the importance of the global discussions and partnerships that are being facilitated by alumni like Tien.”

Tien is the keynote speaker at the UW–Madison conference, “Taiwan and Globalization,” Dec. 1-3. The conference will give business people an opportunity to hear from specialists about trade details and the business climate in Taiwan.

Participants include students and scholars from Taiwan, business people, Taiwanese-American students, and others who intend to make careers in East Asia. The East Asian Legal Studies Center is sponsoring the conference, with support from other programs.

The Wisconsin Alumni Association has been serving UW–Madison and its graduates since 1861. WAA provides an array of services, programs, and benefits, including On Wisconsin, a quarterly alumni magazine; an international travel program; a career database program; and an extensive student relations program.