Who We Are
The Weatherhead East Asian Institute is a hub for the study of modern and contemporary East, Inner, and Southeast Asia at Columbia University.
An integrated center for research and teaching, the Institute brings together faculty, research scholars, and students from across the university, and advances knowledge and understanding of the region through academics, research programs, renowned publications series, and a robust calendar of public events.
Our Mission
- To advance knowledge of East, Inner, and Southeast Asia, both across the University and among the public;
- To bring together faculty, research scholars, and students in an integrated program of teaching and research on East, Inner, and Southeast Asia;
- To train students to understand the countries, peoples, and cultures of East, Inner, and Southeast Asia, preparing them for a wide range of careers.
Message from the Director
Welcome to the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, a hub for the study of modern and contemporary Northeast, Southeast, and Inner Asia at Columbia University. Since its founding in 1949, WEAI has been a pioneer in East Asian Studies, expanding research in underexplored areas, fostering a collaborative community of experts from across disciplines, and offering unparalleled insight into one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
The Institute was started as a scholarly response to address the lack of knowledge about East Asia during World War II. We are now in a vastly more connected world, but our role is no less critical. As a historian, I recognize the importance of examining old arguments, exploring new angles from which to reconsider established truths. I am excited to see where we head as we engage with the past, present, and future, and connect disciplines and perspectives in an effort to better understand and engage the world today.
I encourage you to keep an eye out for new initiatives and programs. Thank you for being a part of the WEAI community, and I look forward to seeing you on the 9th floor of the International Affairs Building, on the 6th floor of Kent Hall, and indeed anywhere on campus where we conduct our activities.
—Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, Director, Weatherhead East Asian Institute
View Professor Nguyen's profile page
The Annual Report
Effectively a yearbook for the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, the Annual Report features a roster of all Institute members and reports from affiliate programs in addition to lists of events that took place during the academic year; members' publications; and all funding sources.
Download the 2025–2026 Annual Report (PDF)
View previous years' Annual Reports
The Year in Review
In a tumultuous year, the Weatherhead East Asian Institute continued to look both forward and back under the stewardship of Director Lien-Hang T. Nguyen. In the spring, we marked twin anniversaries in America's relationship with Vietnam through a three-day conference; in the fall, one new lecture series fostered opportunities for scholarship on Taiwan, while another surveyed responses to the COVID-19 pandemic across the Chinese-speaking world. Throughout the year we hosted our usual broad spectrum of visiting scholars committed to the study of Northeast, Southeast, and Inner Asia.
Click here for a timeline with a selection of WEAI's 2025 news and events.
Explore previous years: