FACES Alumni

Background

One of FACES' key long-term impacts is the establishment of a talented, influential and well-networked group of alumni that will form the future bulwark of positive U.S.-China relations. Organizing successful conferences is necessary but not sufficient to create this strong FACES network. We are aware that we must succeed in three other aspects: identifying future leaders effectively; giving them the opportunity to cultivate lifelong friendships; and inspiring them to shape their future careers with U.S.-China relations in mind. Each year, we adopt an aggressive approach to reach out to potential delegates in top universities in both the U.S. and China through emails, bulletin boards, flyers, and by word-of-mouth. For our 2007 conferences, we have received a record number of over eight hundred applicants, from which forty delegates are selected through a rigorous application process.

Deep Friendship

Our conferences are designed to foster friendships from the very start. We are not simply another academic conference or a free socializing trip for fun-loving students. Rather, by strategically programming activities both during conferences and within inter-conference period (e.g. pre-conference group work, casual and formal social events, collaborative projects between American and Chinese delegates and political simulations), we seek to allow delegates to know each other socially and intellectually. As a result, a strong esprit-de-corps has emerged within each delegation and, from what we have observed, many deep friendships have emerged. The setup of our alumni mailing list in 2003 has produced a flurry of email contact among all years of former delegates and officers. These emails - travel tales, personal updates, calls for reunions, current affairs discussions, messages seeking advice on jobs and housing - are a testament to the close-knit nature of our alumni network. Many of our alumni, both within each delegation and across delegations, often meet up in person. Reunions have recently been held in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, New York City, Washington DC, San Francisco, Singapore and Tokyo.

FACES Alumni Website

Visit facesalumni.org to learn more about FACES' distinguished alumni or to keep in touch with old acquaintances