Building on the strengths of Wittenberg’s toprated East Asian Studies (EAS) program, Gene Swanger, professor emeritus of religion, hosted a three-hour executive seminar on campus, Feb. 28, for companies involved in trade with East Asia. A second seminar is slated for May 16.

Swanger, who founded the EAS program in 1970 and served as its first director, presented to representatives in the automotive industry, agriculture, real estate, banking, research and development, among others areas. Swanger’s course, based in part on his continuing work as a visiting lecturer at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, covered such topics as etiquette, ethics and business behaviors.

By presenting these seminars, Swanger hopes participants will become “more
alert to the nuances of the signals they’re receiving from their Chinese, Korean and Japanese counterparts.”