Former US ambassador to teach at HUFS

Kathleen D. Stephens

By Lee Kyung-min

Former U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kathleen D. Stephens, 62, has been named a chair professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) in the language and diplomacy department, the university said Monday.

She will begin teaching undergraduates in this year’s second semester starting Sept. 1.

“We believe Stephens’ hands-on experience and knowhow will profoundly benefit students in the department, who aspire to become diplomacy experts,” said HUFS President Kim In-chul.

HUFS founded the division, which combines language and diplomacy, last year to provide education to aspiring diplomats who want to work at various international organizations.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Stephens first came to Korea in 1975 when she was a Peace Corps volunteer and taught English in Yesan Middle School in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province.

After serving as the U.S. ambassador to Korea from 2008 to 2011, she joined Stanford University in California as Koret Fellow at the Shorenstein Center for Asia-Pacific Research from 2013 to 2014. She worked on various aspects of Korea including political development and cultural and social changes, and gave lectures about these issues.

She received many awards from the Korean government and organizations here, including the Sejong Cultural Prize, the Pacific Century Institute’s Building Bridges Award, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and the Kwanghwa Medal of Diplomatic Merit.

She also wrote a book in 2010 titled, “An American Ambassador’s Reflections on Life in Korea.”