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. 

James Bole is a fourth year at the American University School of International Service, where he specializes in global development in East Asia. In college, James is a member of the American University Model UN team and helps run AMERIMUNC, a High School Model UN Conference. Outside of school, he has interned for the Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean and the US State Department’s Education USA Program. He is excited to learn more about program organizing and contributing to USAI this spring!

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. She’s from Northern Ireland and Colombia, and has studied Chinese and Spanish for over ten years. Isabella is especially interested in how diplomacy, cybersecurity, and language intersect in shaping international cooperation, conflict, and global governance. She’s passionate about exploring how cultural understanding and strategic communication can influence international decision-making in an increasingly connected and digital world. Outside of academics, she likes to run, play trumpet, and learn new cultures.

Arushi Gandhi is an incoming senior at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, where she studies Economics, Public Policy Analysis, and German. She has interned with the Office of former Congressman Larry Bucshon and Sabic, a chemical manufacturing company, gaining experience in both public policy and the private sector. Beyond academics and work, Arushi is a dancer and enjoys returning to her hometown ballet studio to teach. At USAI, she is excited to apply her business education and interest in foreign affairs to contribute meaningfully to the organization.

Elise Kim is a rising senior at Colby College, pursuing a B.A./B.S. dual degree in English Literature and Electrical Engineering. Her interest in foreign relations stems from her desire to work in the field of international patent law between East Asian countries and the United States. She is excited to learn as much as she can about the current state of US-Asia relations by working as a program assistant this summer. 

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. 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 excited about the opportunity to contribute to the US-Asia Institute’s mission of strengthening US-Asian relations this summer.

Saniya Malhotra is a rising junior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in International Relations and Economics. She is from the suburbs of Maryland and has always dreamed of working in D.C. due to her proximity to the region. Her research interests lie in the security practices of East Asian countries and what this could mean for other powers like the United States. She previously interned on Capitol Hill for a Maryland Congressman, who focused on defense and foreign policy. At Penn, Saniya is involved in the judicial branch of student government, service dog training, policy consulting, and more.  Saniya recently returned from a 10-day class trip to Japan and is excited to embark on even more educational cultural experiences through the US-Asia Institute this summer.

Tiffany Pham is a student at Columbia University studying International Relations, History, and Ethnicity & Race Studies, with a focus on Asian American studies and East Asian history. At Columbia, she is a Senior Editor for the Columbia Political Review and a researcher for the Columbia Policy Institute. She has held internships and fellowships with organizations such as VietRISE, Rising Voices, and Seeding Change, where she contributed to projects related to language accessibility, educational outreach, and civic engagement. Tiffany looks forward to deepening her understanding of US-Asia relations and program development through USAI.