Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Scobell
Dr. Andrew Scobell's interests in Asian-Pacific political and security issues are logical, given his unique childhood. He was born in Hong Kong, where his father held a senior position in the British colonial government; his American mother worked for the U.S. consulate. Growing up in East Asia, a region on the cusp of cultural, political, and economic transition, Dr. Scobell gained special insight into how the countries of the region have been transformed during the past five decades. Among his early memories are the commemorative services held in the British colony following the death of the legendary communist leader, Chairman Mao Zedong, and the many thousands who came to the old Bank of China building to pay their final respects to the man who, for better or worse, left his indelible mark on the lives of all Chinese. Dr. Scobell could appreciate the humor in the sight of some of the staunch Maoist mourners stopping for a quick snack at a nearby "imperialist" American McDonald's restaurant afterwards. At that time, there were no McDonald's outlets on the Chinese mainland, nor for that matter any symbols of American or Western cultural or economic hegemony.
After his father retired from government service in 1978, the Scobell family left Hong Kong to settle on the West Coast of the United States. It was while attending college in the State of Washington that Dr. Scobell first began to pursue his academic interest in China. He majored in history, focusing on contemporary Asia. His burgeoning interest coincided with the opening of post-Mao China.
With significant first-hand experience in Asia and strong academic credentials in Asian studies, a career in research and teaching about Asia was logical. Yet, this career path was not an inevitable one. In fact, Dr. Scobell's path highlights the importance of good timing and good mentors. In the 1980s and 1990s, China loomed ever larger for the United States; and employment opportunities for young people specializing in China grew by leaps and bounds. But without the inspiration and advice of key individuals, each of whom happened to be a China specialist, his career trajectory might have been very different. It began with his father, Charles Scobell, a man with extensive experience in Asia, who encouraged his son to pursue his interest in China at graduate school, first at the University of Washington in Seattle, and then at Columbia University in New York City. Dr. Scobell credits a series of leading sinologists with having major influence on his career in academia. Dr. Scobell began his apprenticeship in the late 1980s as a research assistant to Senior Fellow Harry Harding at the Brookings Institution; and then, in the early 1990s, under the stewardship of Professor Andrew Nathan, he honed his research and writing skills at Columbia University. Then, in the late 1990s, under the tutelage of the late Professor Michel Oksenberg, he completed the research and writing of his first book as a visiting scholar at Stanford University. The mentoring of these highly respected scholars inspired him to produce theoretically informed and policy-relevant research in jargon-free prose that would be accessible to a wide audience.
Over the past 16 years, Dr. Scobell has taught at Rutgers University, the University of Louisville, the Army War College, and Dickinson College. He has also conducted research and organized seminars, conferences, and academic programs in partnership with a variety of universities, think tanks, foundations, and government entities. He is currently completing a book on Chinese foreign policy.
Dr. Scobell's expertise and experience fit perfectly with the Bush School's efforts to build up its regional focus on China, and he has been warmly welcomed by both faculty and students. He has already helped with the biannual George W. Bush U.S.-China Relations Conference held in October 2007 in D.C., and is currently preparing for a study abroad program in China in the summer of 2009. Moreover, he has spearheaded the successful effort to create an interdisciplinary China Studies Certificate for students who take at least four China-focused courses offered either by the Bush School or by selected other departments at the University.
For more information on Dr. Scobell's educational and work background see the following link: http://bush.tamu.edu/faculty/ascobell/
