Senior Advisory Board
Program chairs Dr. Victor Cha of CSIS and Dr. David Kang of USC and a distinguished group of American and Korean senior advisors with vast experience from academia, government, and the private sector, along will mentor the 2020-2021 NextGen Scholars.



Mr. Hwang received a BA in Economics/Business from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University.





Lee, Sook Jong is professor of public administration and public policy at Sungkyunkwan University. She leads governance related research networks in academia. Currently, Dr. Lee is directing the East Asia Collaboration Center of the University. She served ten years as President of the East Asia Institute, an independent Seoul-based think tank. She holds a number of advisory positions in the South Korean government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Lee also participates as member of the Trilateral Commission, Council of Councils, and many other transnational networks on research and policy studies. Since 2015, she is serving as a Steering Committee member of the World Movement for Democracy. She created the Asia Democracy Research Network with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy and is representing the Network as a Co-representative. Her research interests include multilateralism, democracy/civil societies, and foreign policy nexus with domestic politics and public opinion. Previously, Dr. Lee was research fellow at the Sejong Institute, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, professorial lecturer at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, and visiting fellow at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies. Her recent publications include Transforming Global Governance with Middle Power Diplomacy: South Korea’s Role in the 21st Century (ed. 2016), Keys to Successful Presidency in South Korea (ed. 2013 and 2016), Korea’s Role in Global Governance for Development Cooperation (ed. 2012), Public Diplomacy and Soft Power in East Asia (eds. 2011), Japan and East Asia: Regional Cooperation and Community Building (eds. 2011), and Toward Managed Globalization: The Korean Experience (eds. 2010). Dr. Lee received her Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University.

Mark Lippert is vice president of international government affairs at Boeing International. In this role, he leads Boeing International’s integrated government affairs team, developing and implementing country and regional government affairs strategies in support of the company’s non-U.S. operations and global growth plans. Ambassador Lippert joined Boeing in 2017. Prior to that, he served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Korea. He previously held senior positions in the Department of Defense, including as chief of staff to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and as assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs. Ambassador Lippert also served in the White House as chief of staff to the National Security Council and in senior staff positions in the U.S. Senate. A veteran, Ambassador Lippert mobilized to active duty with the U.S. Navy from 2009 to 2011 as an intelligence officer for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, which included a deployment to Afghanistan. From 2007 to 2008, he deployed as an intelligence officer with Seal Team One in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ambassador Lippert’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Basic Parachutist Badge. He is also the recipient of the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Public Service Award and the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award. Ambassador Lippert graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a B.A. in political science and holds an M.A. in international policy studies from the same institution.


