The Asian Studies Department is Proud of Our Alumnus
Department of Asian Studies alumnus Robert Delaney is currently a student at Harvard Law School pursuing his Juris Doctorate.
Alumnus Robert DELANEY
As a student at the United States Military Academy, I began to fully understand the strong relationship between the Republic of Korea and the United States. As a child, I heard stories of my grandfather’s experiences during the Korean War, but I gained a new understanding while working near the Demilitarized Zone with the United States Army. My experience there clearly illustrated the global significance of the Republic of Korea and the importance of having United States Military Officers who have a deep understanding of Korean culture, language, and history. I applied to the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Asian Studies Department to bring these skills to the United States Army and support the United States’ alliances across the world.
I completed my M.A. in Asian Studies and Graduate Certificate in Korean Studies in 2015. The flexibility of the Asian Studies curriculum allowed me to tailor my classes to the specific interests in Korean History and Sociology. The variety of classes available enabled me to also take classes that provided contextual understanding of the region in areas such as security studies and economic development. Among the many amazing experiences in the Asian Studies Program, I enjoyed studying and doing research in Korea the most. The program gives students time in the summer to travel abroad for language study and do a semester abroad in their country of interest. During this time, I conducted research for my Master’s thesis under the guidance of Professor Young-A Park.
The process of writing and defending my thesis provided an invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of the region. After graduating, I moved to the Republic of Korea to work in the Headquarters of the Eighth United States Army. Here, my studies at the University of Hawaii became invaluable during the period of high tensions beginning in 2015. The program gave me the language skills and cultural understanding to contribute to the ROK-US Alliance while opening opportunities to work at the highest level of the United States Army in Korea.
The knowledge I gained through the program inspired me to continue my education and the faculty encouraged me to pursue my passion of supporting the United States’ alliances across the world. I am currently a student at Harvard Law School pursuing my Juris Doctorate. Looking back, I can see that the Asian Studies Program at the University of Hawaii changed my life and provided me the opportunity to make an impact in our world.