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About the Program

Program History A Different Approach to Cultivating Global Leaders

Established in 1974, the Luce Scholars Program is a competitive leadership development fellowship that provides emerging leaders with immersive professional experiences in Asia. In partnership with The Asia Foundation, which has offices in each of the countries and regions where we place our Scholars, we aim to strengthen relationships across borders by offering Scholars opportunities to deepen their understanding of Asia’s countries, cultures, and people. Through this yearlong immersion, the Program equips scholars with knowledge and skills to address global leadership challenges and build a more interconnected world.

Luce in Numbers

  • 15-18 Scholars Per Year
  • 50+ Years
  • 800+ Alumni
  • 19 Placement Countries

CALLING ALL LUCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM ALUMS! As we celebrate 50 incredible years of the Program, we
need your help to complete our historical timeline. Share
your cherished photos and memories to enrich our archives.

Submit Photos(this link opens in new window)

1973

Complete US withdrawal from Vietnam

Program founded in partnership with TAF

1974

Luce Scholars Program Launched

60 Institutions were invited to participate (30 in 1974 and 30 in 1975)

First class of Luce Scholars departs for Asia (Scholars could travel to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan) 12 Scholars -Stipend was $9,000 ($11,000 married)

Year of 1975

1975

Pol Pot Takes over Cambodia

Wrap-up meeting in the Philippines

Malaysia was added as a placement country

1976

Wrap-up meeting in Indonesia

South Korea and Thailand added as placement countries

1977

Wrap-up meeting in Thailand

1978

Vietnamese forces invade Cambodia, driving out Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge

Wrap-up meeting in Thailand

1979

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong & China

US & China establish full diplomatic relations

End of Pol Pot Regime

1980

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong & China

1981

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong & China

Year of 1982

1982

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong & China

Year of 1983

1983

Philippines opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, is assassinated

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong & China

1984

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong & China

1985

Wrap-up meeting in Indonesia

China added as a placement country

Year of 1986

1986

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong

1987

Martial law lifted in Taiwan

Wrap-up meeting in Malaysia

1988

Wrap-up meeting in China

1989

Wrap-up meeting in Singapore

Emperor Hirohito dies

Tiananmen Square democracy protests

one Luce Scholar placed in Brunei – country closed to placements in 1990

Year of 1990

1990

Myanmar places Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest

Wrap-up meeting in Indonesia

Year of 1991

1991

Aung San Suu Kyi wins Nobel Peace Prize

Wrap-up meeting in Hong Kong

Year of 1992

1992

Wrap-up meeting in Malaysia

Year of 1993

1993

Wrap-up meeting in Thailand

Year of 1994

1994

Wrap-up meeting in Fiji

Year of 1995

1995

Wrap-up meeting in South Korea

1996

Vietnam and Mongolia added to the list of placement countries

Wrap-up meeting in Mongolia

Year of 1997

1997

Hong Kong handover

Wrap-up meeting in Malaysia

1998

President Suharto forced to resign after 30 years as Indonesia’s dictator

Wrap-up meeting in Uzbekistan

Year of 1999

1999

Wrap-up meeting in Japan

25th Anniversary of the Luce Scholars Program

Year of 2000

2000

Wrap-up meeting in Philippines

Year of 2001

2001

Wrap-up meeting in Indonesia

Year of 2002

2002

Wrap-up meeting in China

Cambodia added to the list of placement countries

Bali Nightclub bombing, Scholars evacuated to Singapore

SARS outbreak in Asia one Luce Scholar returns to US from placement at hospital in Taiwan

Year of 2003

2003

Wrap-up meeting in Hawaii

Year of 2004

2004

Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

Wrap-up meeting in Vietnam

2005

Wrap-up meeting in South Korea

2006

Military coup in Thailand

West Java Earthquake and Tsunami

Wrap-up meeting in Malaysia

2007

Wrap-up meeting in Mongolia

2008

Wrap-up meeting in Cambodia

Year of 2009

2009

Loas added as a placement country

Wrap-up meeting in China

’84 LS David Huebner named Ambassador to New Zealand

Year of 2010

2010

Myanmar end to Military rule, Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest

Wrap-up meeting in Malaysia

Year of 2011

2011

Wrap-up meeting in New Zealand

India added as a placement country

Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Year of 2012

2012

Wrap-up meeting in Laos

Year of 2013

2013

Xi Jinping elected president of the People’s Republic of China

Wrap-up meeting in South Korea

2014

Wrap-up meeting in Myanmar

2014 Indian general election, Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister

Myanmar and Nepal added as placement countries

2015

Wrap-up meeting in Indonesia

Year of 2016

2016

Wrap-up meeting in Japan

2017

Wrap-up meeting in Japan

 

2018

Wrap-up meeting in India

Sri Lanka and Timor Leste added as a placement countries

Year of 2019

2019

Wrap-up meeting in Taiwan & Hong Kong

2020

COVID reported in Asia – Scholars given the option to return to the U.S., change to a different location in Asia or remain in their country of placement

Luce Scholars Program stands out as the sole fellowship program to send recipients abroad

Wrap-up cancelled

2021

Wrap-up cancelled

Burma military rule resumes

Program put in hiatus

2022

Convening of three Cohorts impacted by COVID in Indonesia

Year of 2024

2024

Wrap-up meeting in Mongolia

Henry Luce Program Leaders

  • Michelle Douenias

    Senior Program Manager for Luce Scholars

    Michelle Douenias manages all aspects of the Luce Scholars Program and oversees The Asia Foundation grant. She previously worked as program associate and event coordinator for the Luce Scholars Program and prior to that, program assistant for the Luce Scholars and Clare Boothe Luce Programs. Before joining the Luce Foundation in 1990, she worked as a jewelry designer and briefly taught K–12th grade art. She holds a B.A. and a teaching certificate in fine arts from Ohio Wesleyan University. Among other various volunteer positions in the Morris School District and local community, Michelle served on the Board of Trustees of the Morris Educational Foundation from 2013-2019.

  • Aida Gureghian

    Program Director for Leadership

    Aida Gureghian is the program director for leadership at the Henry Luce Foundation. She previously served as the assistant dean for professional development at the Graduate School of Arts and Science at New York University, where she designed and implemented innovative programming to cultivate leadership and public engagement skills. Aida also served as the assistant dean for students at NYU, where she launched several pathway programs for underrepresented students. Prior to pursuing a career in higher education administration, she taught history at the University of Pennsylvania and Brooklyn College. Aida earned her bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA, her MPhil from Oxford University, and her PhD in history from the University of Pennsylvania.

Recent News and Announcements

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  • June 12, 2024
    Alumni News

    Luce Scholars Reflect on the Program’s First 50 Years
  • April 29, 2024
    News

    On Leadership: Mariko Silver and Ian Solomon in Conversation
  • February 24, 2022
    Field Notes

    The Value of Feeling Ordinary

    • The Luce Experience

    The Luce Scholar year is a 13-month commitment beginning with the orientation in June through the wrap-up meeting in July of the following year.

    Learn More