Family honors late professor with $50K to support UH’s Shidler Asian field study program

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business Emeritus Professor K.K. Seo, a beloved and distinguished academic, and dedicated and esteemed professor, has recently died.

In honor of Seo's memory and in support of future generations of students, the Seo family, along with the McQuiston and Hong families, have established the Endowed Emeritus Professor K.K. Seo Asian Field Study Scholarship Fund with a generous $50,000 donation.

Seo, who founded one of the college's flagship programs, the Asian Field Study (AFS) program in 1986, was a visionary whose career was marked by excellence in education, research and global collaboration. The scholarship will provide financial support for students participating in the AFS program, which will ensure that more students can gain the real-world business experience in Asia, a vision Seo passionately upheld throughout his career.

His legacy was honored on August 28 at a memorial service at The Kahala Hotel & Resort in which those who knew him celebrated his life, legacy and countless contributions to the college, his family and his community.

"Our dad's life was about education and teaching, which was complemented by his dedication and unwavering commitment to his students," said Margaret Seo, K.K. Seo's daughter. "It was his wish that every student, regardless of their financial background, be able to participate, learn and enhance their knowledge and business experience through the AFS program. It was important for our family to find a way to honor our dad and to continue his legacy. This fund will not only honor his founding of the successful AFS Program but ensure that his passion for education lives on in perpetuity."

Seo directed the AFS for 25 years and under his leadership the program developed into a robust global business field study focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. After his retirement from the college in 2005, Seo was involved in the AFS as a consultant and often visited with colleagues, friends, alumni and students. To date, more than 800 alumni have participated in the AFS, visiting every major country in Asia. Students have toured more than 400 Asian enterprises, including multinational companies such as POSCO, Nissan and Tencent, family-owned business, NGOs, embassies and entrepreneurial venture companies.

"Professor K.K. Seo's legacy at the college is immeasurable," said Shidler College Dean Vance Roley. "His vision, leadership and unwavering dedication to providing students with a global perspective on business have left an indelible mark on the college and the many students whose lives he touched. The establishment of this fund is a testament to his passion for education and his belief that every student should have the opportunity to gain practical, real-world business experience, regardless of their financial background. We are deeply grateful to the Seo family for this generous gift, which will help ensure that his legacy continues to shape future generations of global business leaders."

Magaret Seo says that previous gifts from AFS program alumni, including major ones from Lance Inouye and Andrew Chae, motivated her family to create the fund in her late father's honor. She hopes that her family's scholarship will inspire others to do the same in his memory to keep the program going for generations to come.

Ben Bystrom, current director of the AFS, added that the program could not thrive without donor support and that in 2023, a record $94,500 in student scholarships and fellowships were provided through the Freeman Foundation Asian Fellowship Program, Ralph S. Inouye Endowment in honor of Professor K.K. Seo, Michael and Judy Pietsch Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship, Asian Field Study Scholarship Fund and James P.D. Thropp Scholarship. Moving forward, Bystrom said that it is imperative that the program expand its donor base to include AFS alumni and corporations involved in promoting education and improving country relations throughout Asia.

"Students and I fully realize that without the foresight and vision of K.K. Seo to create the AFS, we would never have experienced a once in a lifetime educational journey through Asia," Bystrom said. "The business connections, friendships, lessons learned and career opportunities are truly incredible. Thank you, K.K., the memories will live on."

For more information on how to donate to The Endowed Professor K.K. Seo Asian Field Study Scholarship Fund, please contact Jennifer Lieu, director of development, at [email protected] or (808) 956-3597.

About theShidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Founded in 1949, the Shidler College of Business was named in 2006 after alumnus Jay H. Shidler, founder and managing partner of The Shidler Group. Since his initial gift of $25 million in 2006, Shidler has given approximately $238 million to the college in cash, land leases and in-kind donations. His contributions represent the largest individual donation to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and the second largest known gift to a U.S. public university business school.

In 2019, the School of Travel Industry Management rejoined the college. The college is renowned for its multicultural learning environment and its expertise in international business education and is consistently ranked among the nation's top 25 schools for international business by U.S. News & World Report. Long recognized for its Asia-Pacific focus, the college offers a wide variety of degree, certificate and executive programs. The college has the only graduate program in the state of Hawai'i and Vietnam accredited by AACSB International. For more information, visit shidler.hawaii.edu.

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