Advisory Board

---

The Asian Languagues & Literature Advisory Board is a group of committed individuals with a strong interest in the mission of the Department. Board members help the Department establish and maintain connections with the local business, arts, and heritage communities, and help to raise funds to keep the Department financially secure. These community leaders volunteer their time and energy in support of the important educational and research mission of the Department.

The current board members, listed in alphabetical order, are:

	Dan Bensky is a graduate of the Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine (1975) and Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (1982), holds a Master’s degree in classical Chinese from the University of Washington (1995) and a Ph.D. from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (2006). He is currently a director of the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine, a medical editor at Eastland Press, and in private practice. He has helped compile and translate books on Chinese medicine, including Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies (Eastland Press, 1990).
	Raj Bhowmik has been a resident of the Seattle area for nearly 25 years.  His fondness for the University of Washington began as an undergraduate here in the early 1980s. Raj brings to the Advisory Board a depth of cultural knowledge regarding Asia, Africa, and the Middle East acquired through his experience at Boeing, first as an engineer and then as a member of the International Sales and Marketing Department.  This background is complemented by his ties to various Puget Sound area businesses and related organizations.  As a first generation immigrant--a native of India--he is especially aware of the importance of the Department's work to local heritage communities. Raj's hobbies include soccer and following the fortunes of local sports teams.   He also likes to cook and enjoys spicy meals.    Raj has a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston, as well as an MBA from Seattle University.
	Joseph J. Borich is the Executive Director of the Washington State China Relations Council. As a foreign service officer, Joe served under every president from Nixon to Clinton in a China-related capacity. He has also served as Director of the Taiwan Coordination Staff in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department of State. In his current position, Mr. Borich leads the only State-level association dedicated solely to promoting relations with China. The non-profit Council has been a leading voice since 1979 in promoting trade between China, Hong Kong, and the United States, and represents over 150 corporate members including The Boeing Company, Microsoft Corporation, Weyerhaeuser, and Starbucks Coffee Company. Mr. Borich received a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University in 1967, and a master’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 1972.
	Norigiku Horikawa is an expert in the Japanese art of flower arranging. She is head of the Ryuseiha Ikebana School. She graduated from Ikenobo School and Ryuseiha Ikebana School in Japan. She received her Fine Arts Degree from the University of Washington. She is a member of Ikebana International and past president of Ikebana International.
	Kavasseri V. Ramanathan is Professor Emeritus and former Chairman of the University of Washington Business School's Department of Accounting. He is an internationally recognized expert in the application of accounting and financial strategies for shareholder value based organizational planning and control. He was the founder-Chairman of the University of Washington’s Executive MBA Program, and has taught at Harvard Business School, Northwestern University, New York University, and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Kasi helped to found the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center (HTCC) in Seattle. He has served as President of Ragamala, a Seattle institution that sponsors Indian artists’ performance in the US, and as a Director of Arsha Vidya Pitham, an institution devoted to advanced studies in Indian philosophy and Sanskrit language. Kasi earned his MBA and PhD degrees from the Northwestern University and his B.Com degree from the Calcutta University.
	Ted Woolsey is General Manager, Online Game Service at RealNetworks, Inc. Ted was a founding member of RealNetwork's "RealArcade," the first online downloadable videogame service to target casual gamers. Ted has directed a broad range of initiatives that have helped establish RealArcade as the leader in casual downloadable games on the Internet. As the GM of AsiaPacific, Ted managed the launch of a localized RealArcade service in Japan, and helped drive RealNetwork's efforts in the APAC region. Ted was a founding member of Big Rain, Inc., a videogame software developer in Redmond, WA, and has worked for Crave Entertainment and the US subsidiary of Squaresoft, one of the industry's premier videogame companies. At Squaresoft, Ted filled dual roles as the Director of Marketing and Translator (Japanese to English) of Square's videogame products for the Super NES 16-bit game console. Ted holds an undergraduate degree in English Literature from UC Santa Barbara, and a Master's degree in Japanese Literature from the University of Washington.
	Ted Yamamura is in Material Management of Boeing’s Commercial Aviation Services division, supporting airline customers throughout the world. Ted has been with the Boeing Company since 1979, where he has held a variety of positions.  He just completed his term as President of the Boeing Asian American Professional Association (BAAPA), and has also served as President of the Asian Management Business Association (now known as the National Association of Asian American Professionals – NAAAP)  and the Japanese American Chamber of Commerce.  He is founder and co-developer of the Executive Development Institute (EDI), a leadership development program for upward mobile Asian American managers, and continues to be on their Board of Directors. Ted was born and raised in Seattle.  He received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Santa Clara and holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering from the University of Washington.