Alumni Oral History Program
PHOTO: In this 1950s photo, Dean Philip Thayer (seated center, wearing a white shirt and head gear -- traditional Burmese "gaung baung") poses with other SAIS students, faculty and staff. In 1954 Dean Thayer established the short-lived Rangoon-Hopkins Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Rangoon, Burma.
SAIS Alumni Relations launched a new program this year that captures the history of the school, alumni accomplishments and shared traditions by means of individual interviews, beginning with classes from 1945. In the past year, interviews were conducted with alumni in the Washington, D.C., metro area, and there are plans to reach out to graduates all over the world in years to come.
Early SAIS graduates have great stories to tell. They remember a time when a professor might ask a class to opine on his draft of the North Atlantic Treaty. Arabic classes started at 5 a.m. And the CIA, a fledgling government agency, was hiring its first employees. Several interviewees have shared memories of how they learned about SAIS as a brand-new graduate school and how they got accepted—including one alumnus who received a recommendation from ambassador to the United Nations, Illinois governor and presidential contender Adlai Stevenson. Alumni have recalled details of favorite classes and professors, landing jobs, meeting spouses and their other experiences as members of the post-World War II generation.
Alumni interviews will be recorded in digital audio or video formats, archived and made available to the public on the SAIS website within the next year. Members of the SAIS community are encouraged to participate and to access the interviews.
Click here to view a portion of one of our interviews with SAIS alumnus Ambassador George Lambrakis ’53.
Jordi Izzard of the SAIS Office of Development and Alumni Relations is leading the program. To be interviewed, contact her at jizzard1@jhu.edu or 202.587.3210.
The annual Legacy Circle Luncheon is a gathering that acknowledges our Legacy Circle, those alumni and friends who have named SAIS in their estate plans. This year, the Legacy Circle Luncheon will take place on April 11, 2013.
At each Legacy Circle Luncheon, we recognize those SAIS alumni celebrating their 50th year anniversary – this year for the Class of 1963 (see full class list below). A self-selected group from the Class of 1963 who attend the luncheon will be interviewed as part of our SAIS Oral History Program and their interviews will soon be provided below (note: names with an * will be linked to an interview).
- The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright
- Mr. Peter W. Bailey
- Mrs. Katherine Siemssen Batts
- Mr. Robert C. Bell
- Dr. Peter J. Bertocci
- Mr. Peter C. Borre, Jr.
- Ms. Lois A. Bronfman
- Mr. Charles A. Buchanan, Jr.
- Ms. Sheila R. Buckley
- Ms. Elizabeth A. Carter
- Dr. Herschelle S. Challenor
- Ms. Roberta J. Cohen Korn
- Dr. Robert B. Cunningham
- Mr. Lewis H. Diuguid
- Mr. E. Bliss Eldridge
- Dr. Wilmot A. Fraser
- Mr. Lawrence S. Freund
- Dr. George W. Grayson, Jr.
- Mr. Marston D. Hodgin
- Mr. Brooke C. Holmes
- Mr. Robert W. Hull
- Mr. Walter J. Huntley III
- Mr. Fred A. Kahn
- Mrs. Linda Crobaugh Krijt
- Mr. Carl H. Krijt
- Dr. Ding W. Kuo
- Mr. Michael F. Larratt
- Mr. Allan J. Lenzner
- Mr. Stephen O. Lesser
- Mr. Arthur D. Lewis, Jr.
- Mr. Andrew MacKechnie
- Mr. Robert K. Meahl
- Mr. Robert L. Mott
- Mr. Michael C. Niebling
- Dr. Tullio Osti
- Mr. Robert A. Pellaton
- Mr. Samuel S. Rea
- Mrs. Marilou M. Righini
- Mr. Claudio Scaetta
- Dr. George W. Schuyler
- Dr. Leon M. S. Slawecki
- Mrs. Joan R. Spence
- Mr. John V. Storojev
- Mr. Leo S. Tonkin
- Mr. Gordon A. Tubbs*
- Ms. Shirley Van Buiren
- Mr. Stephen W. Walcavich
- Mr. Charles E. Waterman*
When we talk about “Legacy” we tend to think big—like the legacies of Paul Nitze, Christian Herter and John Kenny. The vision and dedication of these founders lives on in this institution that has come to be recognized as one of the world’s premier graduate schools in International Relations. However, the standing and stature of SAIS is a result of more than the culmination of their efforts; it’s the cumulative and continuing legacy of our graduates and faculty. It’s the legacy of your careers—in the limelight and behind the scenes—that have shaped the policies of nations; advised presidents and other world leaders; crafted historic treaties; promoted diplomacy and resolved conflict; strengthened economic institutions; established programs that lift communities out of poverty; and, trained generations of future world leaders.
Our shared legacy reaches to every corner of the earth; from embassies to villages; from board rooms to classrooms; on the campaign trail and at the trailhead. In May, our 67th class graduated from SAIS. These recent alumni are incredibly eager and determined to continue the traditions that have long been established by our alumni, and to draw upon their training and skills to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. And, they will do incredible work around the world, in our days to come, particularly through the support those of you who comprise the instrumental group that make up the Legacy Circle.
Please think about joining us at our next Legacy Circle Luncheon.
APRIL 11, 2013