On Semester at Sea voyages, local experiences and community are both at the core of the overall learning process. For Fall 2025 Voyage students enrolled in HIST 466 U.S.-China Relations Since 1800, this came to life in every way possible, as they not only engaged in one of SAS’s signature Field Class experiences – but they also met with key leadership from the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), ISE home office staff, and a SAS alumna – to expand on the work and the community they’d been building on the ship.
Led by Professor Tabitha Mallory‑Stone, who also served as the voyage’s Tung Faculty Scholar, 27 students stepped off the ship in Hong Kong and made their way to CUSEF headquarters to give their classroom discussions on China–U.S. relations new depth and relevance.
The class was also joined by Scott Marshall, ISE President and CEO; John Tymitz, CEO Emeritus of ISE; Heather Wisniewski, Vice President for Advancement; Melissa Bingler, Senior Director of Advancement Services; and members of the Semester at Sea President’s Club.
While at CUSEF headquarters, the class engaged directly with practitioners working at the intersection of diplomacy, dialogue, and relationship-building, moving beyond classroom discussions and learning how global relationships are shaped in real time.
The group was led by Andy Tung, Vice Chairman of CUSEF, and James Chau, President of CUSEF. The presenters shared CUSEF’s mission, as well as the foundation’s role in growing dialogue and collaborative relationships between people in the United States and in China. In addition, the group met with Stanley Sun, Chief Executive Officer of China-Hongkong Photo Products Holdings, Ltd, for a discussion.
For Wendy Tang, a CUSEF staff member and 2014 SAS alumna, the visit carried special meaning. As a primary coordinator for the event, she worked closely with Semester at Sea staff to design a program that complemented students’ coursework while introducing them to CUSEF’s mission and work.
But it is Wendy’s deep care for and knowledge of the SAS program that made welcoming the ship to her home city both professionally and personally meaningful. “Semester at Sea had a huge impact on my life,” she said. “It broadened my horizons, helped me communicate across cultures, and shaped who I am today. Having the ship come to Hong Kong brings back those memories, and it’s incredibly meaningful to now share that experience with today’s students.”
Wendy also shared the deep impact of learning in local settings, bringing classroom concepts to life. “Students often learn about China-U.S. relations from books and lectures,” she said. “But when they come to our foundation, they can see real programs and real people working to strengthen understanding between countries. It brings what they’ve learned from the page into reality.”
Throughout the visit, students actively participated in discussions and asked thoughtful questions about Hong Kong, regional dynamics, and the broader implications of international cooperation. According to Wendy, the level of SAS’s engagement was clear.
“During the dialogue and Q&A, many students raised their hands and asked questions. You could see that they were genuinely interested and that they cared about these issues,” she said.
The visit also highlighted the strength of the broader Semester at Sea community, and, for Wendy, the presence of SAS leadership reinforced the value the SAS program places on experiential learning and student engagement.
“When leadership and donors show up, it sends a strong message,” Wendy said. “It shows that the Semester at Sea community truly values these visits and the student experience. They’re there to support the program and to listen and learn alongside the students.”
Following the office visit, students and guests gathered for lunch at a local Hong Kong restaurant, sharing traditional dishes such as dim sum and noodles. The meal provided a relaxed setting for continued conversation and cultural exchange. “We wanted to share some of the best of Hong Kong with them,” Wendy said. “Food is such an important part of culture, and it’s another way students connect with a place.”
The Fall 2025 visit marked the second consecutive year that Semester at Sea students have visited CUSEF in Hong Kong, building on a growing partnership rooted in shared values around global education and dialogue.
As Semester at Sea continues to deliver experiential learning opportunities across the curriculum, visits like this one remind us of the value of coursework that turns into conversations – and the strength of global partnerships that grow into lasting collaborations, dialogues, and understandings.
