Stephen Noerper joined The Korea Society as Senior Vice President after serving with the EastWest Institute and New York University, where he was an associate professor of international relations. Dr. Noerper's leadership in NGOs dates back to 1985 and his experience with a Chicago-based foundation. Before moving to New York City, he was Vice President of Intellibridge, a senior analyst with the U.S. State Department, and a non-profit resident representative in Mongolia, where he had served as visiting professor and Fulbright senior scholar at the National University of Mongolia. Dr. Noerper was also a visiting full professor to Waseda University in Japan and an adjunct professor at American University in Washington, DC. In the 1990s he served as an assistant and then associate professor at Hawaii's Asia-Pacific Center, as a fellow at the East-West Center, and as Washington, DC representative for the Nautilus Institute. Dr. Noerper was a visiting researcher at Korea's Institute for Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS), a fellow at the Edward R. Murrow Center, and a graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the London School of Economics.

Michael G. Kulma is the Executive Director of Global Leadership Initiatives at the Asia Society headquarters in New York. In this capacity he directs the Society’s four major leadership initiatives: Asia 21 Young Leaders, Diversity Leadership Forum, Williamsburg Conference, and Women Leaders of New Asia. He began his career at the Asia Society in 2000 working on policy issues related to Northeast Asia with a specific concentration on China. Prior to that, he lectured at a number of colleges in the New York City area, focusing on East Asian politics, foreign policy, and international relations. Dr. Kulma contributes regularly to print and broadcast media on Asia-focused issues. He was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is a member of The National Committee on United States-China Relations. He received a BA in economics from the University of Chicago, a master's in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, and a PhD in political science from the City University of New York. He speaks Mandarin.

Join us for this briefing with Steven Noerper and Mike Kulma prior to the World Affairs Council's event in the evening. Light refreshments will be served.