A Conversation with Asia Center Executive Director Rachelle Walsh

A Conversation with Rachelle Walsh, Executive Director of the Harvard University Asia Center

Rachelle Walsh, the Asia Center's newly hired Executive Director who served as Interim Executive Director last year, conversed with the Asia Center recently about her new position and her goals for the Center.

Asia Center: What unique skills or perspectives do you bring to your role as Executive Director?

Rachelle Walsh : I think my finance background is a unique aspect that I bring to the Executive Director position. I look at things not only through a leadership lens but also through a financial and economic lens, ensuring financial stability so we can effectively carry out our work. I’ve worked in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, which has given me a balanced perspective.

In the nonprofit world, things can sometimes move slowly due to policies and procedural inertia, whereas in the for-profit world, time is money, and everything moves rapidly. Having experience in both sectors allows me to integrate the best elements of each—knowing when to push for efficiency and when to respect necessary processes.

Additionally, my excitement for the mission is something I believe radiates throughout my work. Interestingly, I don’t have an Asian Studies background, which means I approach things with a beginner’s mindset. I ask a lot of questions, and in doing so, I help others reflect on foundational aspects of our work as well.

AC: How do you see your role as Executive Director shaping the Asia Center’s future?

RW: This role is critical to shaping the future of the Asia Center. Our staff is at the heart of the center—they're talented, passionate, and deeply committed to our mission of transnational studies and incubating the Southeast Asia Initiative. Many of them have been here for 10, 20, even 30 years. My role is to support them, provide the tools and guidance they need, and create a safe space for innovation.

Beyond that, I see my role as refining our mission, setting clear goals, and ensuring alignment across our work. Fundraising plays a big part in this; when we’re clear about what we want to achieve, it opens up new opportunities to secure support and increase outreach.

AC: What excites you most about your position right now?

RW: This is an exciting time to be at the Asia Center. We’re one of the newer centers at Harvard—just 27 years old compared to others that have been around for 60 or 70 years. Our scope is broad; we’re transnational and interdisciplinary, which makes our work incredibly dynamic.

Right now, there’s increasing clarity among our staff, more traction for our Southeast Asia Initiative, and stronger partnerships with students and faculty across Harvard. I see a lot of potential for positioning the Asia Center as a leader in Southeast Asian studies, not just at Harvard but across the country.

We also have an award-winning publications program that I’d love to bring more visibility to. With the decline of traditional academic publishing, supporting and expanding this program is crucial.

Finally, student engagement is a priority. We fund over 200 student research grants per year, providing students with opportunities to experience Asia firsthand. Even if they don’t pursue Asian Studies long-term, these experiences shape their worldviews in meaningful ways.

AC: How do you see the Asia Center’s role within Harvard, and how might it evolve?

RW: The Asia Center is an interfaculty initiative, and I want it to be the hub that connects everyone working on Asia-related topics across all Harvard schools. We can expand this role by improving communication and outreach—perhaps through annual meetings with executive directors from other centers, understanding their goals, and building stronger partnerships. That way, we become the go-to place for connecting people studying Asia.

AC: Lastly, what’s a fun or surprising fact about you?

RW: Well, I lived in Little Rock for 11 years and while there I started an annual seersucker bicycle ride, and it actually got featured on the news!

AC: Wait, what is a seersucker bicycle ride?

RW: It’s a fun event where people dress in seersucker striped clothing—a very Southern style—and ride through downtown Little Rock. We even had a hotel let us park our bikes in their ballroom and serve themed cocktails. It was a great way to bring people together and promote bicycling in the city.

AC: That’s amazing!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

RW: I think that covers everything; I appreciate the opportunity to share more about the Asia Center and my work.