Connecting Asia: Tour of Asia connects Liu Institute director with alums, universities
Enthusiastic Notre Dame alumni from five Asian cities—Seoul, Tokyo, Manila, Taipei, and Hong Kong—turned out to meet and hear from Professor Michel Hockx, the director for the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, during his recent two-week tour of Asia.
Hockx delivered Hesburgh Lectures on the topic of Chinese literary censorship in Tokyo, Manila and Taipei. The lectures examined how speeches about literature given by Chinese leader Xi Jinping are turned into cultural policy by organs of the Chinese state, and how these policies are subsequently implemented.
“I show that at the level of actual implementation, Xi Jinping’s moral and ideological criteria for literature often get taken less seriously than Xi would probably like, because the literary world insists on holding on to aesthetic, rather than political criteria for good literature,” Hockx explained. “And I also show that, as a result of that pushback from 'serious' literary circles, the implementation of Xi's ideas is mainly limited to the control and censorship of online fan fiction.”
He also presented a Hesburgh Lecture on Chinese studies in Hong Kong, while speaking about Notre Dame’s growing expertise in Korean Studies in Seoul.
Beyond the lectures, Hockx’s visit to the five cities emphasized Notre Dame’s growing global presence, especially through the Keough School of Global Affairs, of which the Liu Institute is a constituent unit.
“The Keough School is only 10 years old, so most of the alumni that I met had already graduated when it opened,” Hockx said. “They are so proud of its existence and Notre Dame’s growing global focus.
“This trip emphasized how far Notre Dame has come in its connections with Asia, and it also set us on a better course for stronger engagement. The support was very exciting and very gratifying.”
A Special Legacy
Hesburgh Lectures were established in 1986 specifically for Notre Dame clubs to engage in a Notre Dame academic experience in their communities. Lectures are often held in conjunction with outside academic institutions in the spirit of academic exchange.
“These lectures were inspired by our beloved Father Hesburgh and his legacy of lifelong learning,” said Dolly Duffy, executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association in reference to the late Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., who served as Notre Dame’s president from 1952 to 1987.
“Father Ted was especially interested in connecting Notre Dame to Asia, which is evident in his first trip to China in 1979. To have Professor Hockx continue this tradition, especially on this scale, is extremely meaningful. Our alumni in Asia are incredibly loyal, active, and interested in the academic life of Notre Dame, so I’m not surprised by the success of this tour.”
Seoul
Hockx’s first stop was Seoul, where he gave a dinner presentation on October 20 about Notre Dame’s growing success in Korean Studies. Jae Wook Yoo ’20 MBA, the president of the Notre Dame Club of Korea, organized the event.
“Notre Dame’s growing expertise in Korean Studies has been nothing short of rapid,” Hockx said. “Our alumni were excited to learn about how far the University has come in educating about Korea.”
In the past five years, the University has hired five professors whose work focuses on Korea and the Korean diaspora, three of whom are housed in the Keough School: Dahjin Kim, Yong Lee, and Sharon Yoon. Additionally, two professors in the College of Arts and Letters—Hayun Cho and Cecilia Kim—examine Korea through literature and film, respectively.
Significantly, the hiring of Yoon and Cho was supported by funding from the Korea Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes awareness and understanding of Korea. Grants to hire faculty are prestigious, which was reemphasized to Hockx during a visit to the Korea Foundation during his time in Seoul.
“It was an honor to thank the Korea Foundation in person for their generous support,” Hockx said. “They said several times that it reflects very well on Notre Dame that we have received two hiring grants, especially in such a short period of time. They are happy with our progress.”
Hockx also visited Seoul National University, South Korea’s most prestigious institution of higher education, and its Asia Center. “We spoke about many ways to collaborate, and, obviously, a partnership with an institution of this caliber would be a huge win for Notre Dame and our students.”
Tokyo
In Tokyo, Hockx delivered the lecture “Literary Censorship and Cultural Policy in Today’s China” on October 22 at Sophia University for an audience of 20.
“It was meaningful to host Professor Hockx at Sophia, the oldest Catholic university in Japan, which has had a connection with Notre Dame for decades,” said Dan Kerrigan ’84, MBA ’86, the president of the Notre Dame Club of Japan-Tokyo. “We have a very loyal club, and our members were not only interested in the lecture about censorship, but we were also excited to hear about the Liu Institute’s recent endowments related to Japan. Professor Hockx left us feeling very connected to campus.”
The Paul and Jane Roberts Endowment for Excellence for the Fukushima Project was established in May 2025 to provide ongoing support for a multidisciplinary project that examines resiliency after the 2011 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown. Paul Roberts ’71 was one of the first exchange students to Japan, and studied at Sophia University during his sophomore year.
A month after the Roberts gift, Laureen ’84 and Tim Andree ’83 established an endowment to support Japanese Studies at the Keough School. The Andree Family Endowment for Japanese Studies and Global Affairs will support a visiting scholars program and, eventually, a postdoctoral program.
In addition to speaking at Sophia University, Hockx visited Keio University, where current Notre Dame students often spend time as part of their study abroad in Japan.
Manila
Hockx delivered his “Literary Censorship and Cultural Policy in Today’s China” lecture on October 25 at Mapúa University in Manila and sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of the Philippines. The alumni audience engaged with Hockx and each other when discussing their firsthand experiences with Chinese internet literature.
“I was happy to see a Notre Dame parent and a young alum who were both fans of Chinese internet literature,” Hockx said. “It made for a lively discussion.”
He was excited to speak to the alumni about the Liu Institute’s connection to journalist Maria Ressa, a Filipino and American citizen who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. Ressa delivered the Liu Institute’s Asia Leadership Forum lecture in 2023 and is also a member of the Institute’s Advisory Board.
Additionally, Hockx pointed out the focus on the Philippines in both the Liu Institute’s current strategic plan and the University’s strategic framework, which emphasizes connecting to the Catholic Global South.
In addition to his lecture at Mapua University, Hockx also visited De La Salle University—a Catholic university with long-standing ties with Notre Dame.
Taipei
At the Taipei event, Hockx presented his lecture in Chinese at National Taiwan University with discussants Professor Hsiao-Feng Shih, a professor of Chinese at National Taiwan Normal University, and Pei-Hsuan Lai, a professor of Chinese literature from National Taiwan University.
Crystal Chen ’02 MBA, president of the Notre Dame Club of Taiwan, was impressed by the engagement and exchange among more than 40 students, professors, and other guests who attended Hockx’s lecture.
“Having three speakers added depth and variety to the conversation,” she said. “Professor Hockx introduced the central themes, and the two NTU professors on the panel contributed perspectives shaped by their own experiences and contexts. This format offered a richer exchange, enabling all attendees—students, faculty and guests—to benefit from a broad range of viewpoints.”
The three-hour event was conducted in Chinese and encouraged audience participation. “Both local students and students visiting from China participated by asking thoughtful questions and sharing their perspectives,” Chen said. “The lively interaction demonstrated a strong interest in the topic. Each person contributed unique insights and reflected on Professor Hockx’s points throughout the discussion, making the conversation especially dynamic.”
A large dinner afterward allowed alumni to mingle with professors from the university.
Hong Kong
More than 80 people attended Hockx’s final talk, at Hong Kong Baptist University. Professor Adam Schwartz, HKBU’s associate director of the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology, served as the respondent.
“I haven’t seen a crowd like this for an academic talk on a weeknight before,” said Levi Checketts ’10, the president of the Notre Dame Club of Hong Kong, who is also a professor of religion and philosophy at HKBU. “Professor Hockx’s analysis of China studies in the US was deeply informative for the HKBU community looking toward the US, and the alumni community located in Hong Kong. Professor Hockx has been absolutely pivotal in helping Notre Dame get its recognition in Hong Kong academia while building friendships across institutions. We were all very grateful to have him here.”
In addition to delivering his lecture, Hockx shared significant accomplishments by the Liu Institute over the past decade, including an increase in the number of courses about Asia across the University to more than 300, a four-fold increase in the number of students earning a degree in Asian Studies, and a rise in the number of faculty whose research focuses on Asia, especially at the Keough School, where 20% of faculty specialization is connected to Asia.
Gratitude
The tour was Hockx’s last visit to Asia as the Liu Institute’s director. His directorship began in 2016 and will end with the close of the academic year.
“It was important for me, in my final year as director, to visit locations in Asia other than the ones I visit regularly, such as Beijing and Mumbai,” he said. “To visit Korea because of the work we've done in Korean studies, to visit Japan because of our relationship with Sophia University since the 1960s; to visit the Philippines because of our relationship with Maria Ressa and the University’s commitment to the Catholic Global South—all of these locations are becoming more and more important to Notre Dame.
“And it is always wonderful to go back to Taiwan and Hong Kong, especially to maintain the special connections that were established years ago and to make new ones.”
The tour helped emphasize the importance of collaborating across Notre Dame units to ensure the University creates opportunities for student exchange and mobility, he added, pointing out especially the enthusiastic support he had received from Asia-based Notre Dame staff, including the directors of ND Beijing, ND Hong Kong, and ND Mumbai, who flew into the various locations to assist him on his travels.
“Together with the Notre Dame clubs and Notre Dame Global, we have united to make sure ND has a presence in Asia,” he said. “This takes time and dedication, and we have achieved something that is elevating Notre Dame.”
Professor Hockx wishes to thank all of the people who made his tour possible
Lea Barthuly
Levi Checketts
Crystal Chen
Christian Hess
Helen Hockx-Yu
Kristoff Inocentes
Dan Kerrigan
Catherine Leung
Dhiraj Mehra
Shaw-Yu Pan
Guenevierre Panopio
Jaime Urquijo
Jingyu Wang
Jae Wook Yoo
Originally published by at asia.nd.edu on December 01, 2025.