Public Information Office

DATE:            November 8, 2007

CONTACT:     Colleen Ferguson, (206) 533-6676

                      Judy Yu, Public Information Office at (206) 546-4534

‘Leaders in the Classroom’
SCC International Programs brings
Joseph J. Borich to campus

Shoreline, WA — Shoreline Community College International Programs presents a lecture by Executive Director of the Washington State China Relations Council, Joseph J. Borich, from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m., Tuesday, November 27, 2007.  The ‘Leaders in the Classroom’ event will be held on the main campus in the 1100 Building in room 1102.  The lecture is free to the public.
            Prior to his current position, Borich was Consul-General for the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, China, the capstone of his 25 year career with the U.S. Foreign Service.  Borich has served under every U.S. President from Nixon to Clinton in a China-related capacity. 
            The Washington State China Relations Council, which was founded in 1979 following the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, is a non-profit business association dedicated to promoting stronger commercial, educational, and cultural relations between the state of Washington and the People's Republic of China. The Council represents over 150 Washington companies and provides trade support and information to many of Washington State's leading corporations.
            This lecture is being presented by International Programs as part of International Education Week.  >Click for a full listing of events this week.

            Shoreline CC is located at 16101 Greenwood Avenue North, west of Aurora Avenue and just north of Seattle city limits.  For more information about the lecture, please call 206.533.6676.

            Shoreline Community College is located at 16101 Greenwood Avenue North, just north of Seattle city limits and west of Aurora Avenue.

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Joseph J. Borich Bio

            Prior to his current position, Borich was a Foreign Service Officer.  He entered the Foreign Service in 1972 and was closely associated with the China field throughout his career, serving under every president from Nixon to Clinton in a China-related capacity.  His last assignment was as Consul General in Shanghai from October 1994 through June 1997; he previously helped open this Consulate General in 1980.  He also served as Director of the Taiwan Coordination Staff in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department of State, and prior to that as the last Deputy Chief of Mission in the former U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu.

            In his current position, Borich leads the only State-level association dedicated solely to promoting relations with China. The Council has been a leading voice since 1979 in promoting trade between China, Hong Kong and the United States. This not-for-profit organization represents over 150 corporate members such as The Boeing Company, Microsoft Corporation, Weyerhaeuser, Frank Russell Company, Costco Wholesale, PACCAR International, Starbucks Coffee Company, major ports, banks, law firms, and other manufacturers, retailers, businesses and major universities in Washington State.

            Mr. Borich was born in Minnesota in 1944, received a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University in 1967, and a master’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 1972.  He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand from 1967 to 1969, and served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971, including a tour in Vietnam.  Borich, his wife, Ting Hsiao-hui, and their daughter, Grace reside in Seattle.