History Department

Asian Studies Learning Community

Richard Bohr

Professor of History/Director of Asian Studies

Richard Bohr has devoted his career to building bridges between Americans and Asians. As a professor of history and director of Asian Studies since 1994 at CSB/SJU, Bohr has had a great impact on the Asian Studies Program, the Asian Studies curriculum and the Asian Studies Learning Community. “I strive to prepare students to work with and in Asia and to help Asian Studies serve CSB/SJU’s institutional commitment to multiculturalism.”

Bohr became interested in Asian Studies while growing up in San Francisco between the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  As a young Asianist, he hoped to employ scholarship, teaching and outreach on Asia and U.S.-Asia relations to help America avoid future wars in that tumultuous part of the world.

In addition to teaching core courses in Asian Studies at CSB/SJU, Bohr also oversees the Asian Studies Program, which focuses on the unprecedented and increasing interaction between East and West and what it means for the future. “Today’s college students must be able to relate with Asian peoples when they enter the work force of tomorrow. The Asian Studies Program provides a multicultural, interdisciplinary spectrum of courses taught by experienced faculty in art history, economics, history, language (Chinese and Japanese), literature, philosophy and religion, politics, and social work.”

The Asian Studies Program is complemented by study abroad opportunities in China and Japan. The Program also supports the Teaching in Asia Program, which has 25 recent CSB/SJU graduates teaching in Asia this year alone.

Since 2000, Bohr has co-directed the CSB/SJU Asian Studies Learning Community with history professor David P. Bennetts. This project is funded by the St. Paul-based Bush Foundation and organizes numerous Asia-related activities on both campuses. Bohr explains that this learning community “infuses Asian Studies into the core curriculum, promotes Asia-related faculty development, and works with Minnesota entities to provide Asia-focused internships and career opportunities.”

Formerly President of the non-profit Midwest China Center and Executive Director of the Minnesota Trade Office, a state government agency, Bohr has led many delegations to Asia and advised Governor Jesse Ventura on his trade mission to China last June. He has also provided commentary and participated in documentary programs for Minnesota Public Radio and PBS television, including The NewsHour with
Jim Lehrer and Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly.