Mary Sue Bissell is President of the US-Asia Institute (USAI), a position she has held since September 2018. She came to USAI at its founding, working with co-founders Esther G. Kee and Joji Konoshima as Director of Programs and Publications and Director of Administration from 1979-84. Ms. Bissell returned to USAI in 1987, serving as Executive Director until 1990. She returned for a 3rd time in December 2001 as Trustee, Vice President & Executive Director. While at USAI, Ms. Bissell has sought to build understanding and strengthen relations between the United States and Asia through organizing high-level conferences and policy dialogues, managing people-to-people exchange programs including Congressional Member and staff delegations to various Asian countries, and connecting political, business, government, academic and emerging leaders.

She also served as USAI’s Secretariat administrator for the US-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON) for 2.5 years. Ms. Bissell has over 40 years of experience. In addition to her work at USAI, she has managed the nation’s largest in-school educational touring program, directed marketing for a top 10 aquarium, led public relations efforts for US Army assets across Hawaii, and managed the administrative and logistical facets of a major Pacific Rim telecommunications membership organization, where she organized the programmatic aspects of the first ever three-node teleconference connecting Washington DC – Honolulu – Hong Kong. She has received numerous local, state and national awards and recognition for writing, public speaking and community service.

Ms. Bissell is a graduate of the University of South Dakota. She is married with two daughters.

Anna Bunn is the Director of Programs and Communications at the US-Asia Institute. She first joined USAI in 2022 as a Program Assistant. In 2024, she received her MLitt in International Security Studies from the University of St Andrews, Scotland. She also completed her undergraduate studies in International Relations at St Andrews. While at university she competed on the women's tennis team and was an active member of the Japan and Foreign Affairs societies. Originally from Hawaii, Anna enjoys all things outdoors. In her free time, she can be found hiking, playing tennis, or learning new instruments and languages. 

Elsbeth Purdy is Executive Assistant at the US-Asia Institute. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, and Master of Library and Information Sciences from Catholic University of America, Washington DC. She has supported USAI as a volunteer while being employed by the DC Public Library system for the past 15 years. At the library she developed and conducted engaging library programs and events for diverse age groups. She also collaborated with colleagues on scheduling, planning events, and strategic design of future library operations. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading, and travel. 

Jie Xin Ching (pronounced: jay-shin) is a member of the Class of 2026 in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She is majoring in International Politics, focusing on Foreign Policy, and pursuing an Asian Studies certificate. She is an international student born and raised in Singapore, though she also has Malaysian citizenship. At Georgetown University, Jie Xin currently serves as the Executive Director of the 62nd North American Invitational Model UN Nations. Before this role, Jie Xin was Deputy Director for the Advocacy and Service sub-board of the Georgetown International Relations Club, raising on-campus awareness of issues such as menstrual inequity and food inequality. Outside of Georgetown, Jie Xin has worked as a summer assistant teacher in Singapore, helping to teach fourth and fifth graders. Through USAI, Jie Xin is excited to expand her knowledge of US-Asia interactions and is especially eager to research and advocate for issues within the Southeast Asian region.

Isabella Collins is a rising senior at Brown University studying International and Public Affairs (IAPA) and East Asian Studies, with a focus on Chinese. Originally from Northern Ireland and Colombia, she has studied Chinese and Spanish for over a decade. Her interests lie at the intersection of diplomacy, cybersecurity, and language in shaping international cooperation and global governance. She has studied in Beijing through Princeton in Beijing and hopes to return to China after graduation. At Brown, Isabella is a teaching assistant for a cybersecurity course, a research assistant, a language ambassador, and plays trumpet in the jazz band. Isabella is excited to be part of USAI to help advance thoughtful U.S.–Asia relations and engage in critical conversations at the intersection of technology, security, and international relations.

Sebastian Macaire is a rising junior at Davidson College, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Economics. He has a strong interest in international relations and economics, particularly in Southeast Asia. At Davidson, he serves as a residential advisor and is actively involved in the debate and photography clubs. He also founded the Ping Pong Club. Last year, he interned at a shipbroking company in Paris, where he gained firsthand experience in maritime trade and security. In his free time, Sebastian enjoys photography, sports, and fragrances. He previously spent two months in Vietnam studying local development and organic farming and plans to study abroad in Indonesia this coming spring. He is enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the US-Asia Institute’s mission of strengthening US-Asian relations this summer.

Ellie McCampbell is a Joint Degree Candidate in International Relations at American and Ritsumeikan Universities. She spent her sophomore and junior years in Kyoto, Japan, where she operated as Ritsumeikan Food Bank’s External Communications Chair. Upon her return to the United States, Ellie has worked as an analyst for an angel investment syndicate dedicated to supporting underrepresented founders and is conducting research on US critical mineral policy and how the South China Sea issue poses national security risks to Japan. Born and raised in Chicago, she has been actively involved in the Japanese American and social justice/volunteer communities and is passionate about cross cultural exchange. 

Sherissa Wu recently graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Political Science. She was born in Boston and grew up in Shanghai, which has inspired both a personal and academic interest in U.S.-Asia relations. Her experience interning for a member of Congress on the House Foreign Affairs Committee combined her passion for Asian affairs and for public policy and also piqued her curiosity in how Congress is briefed on pertinent issues. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts on politics, international affairs, and true crime. At the US-Asia Institute, she is excited to engage with the Asia foreign affairs community and contribute to USAI’s mission to broaden crosscultural understanding.