Dean Alyssa Ayres with David Gitter, ESIA ’15, at the Elliott School in June 2023.
The Elliott School of International Affairs has received a $1 million endowed gift from the Center for Advanced China Research, a Washington DC think tank founded by David Gitter, ESIA MA ’15, to advance contemporary China studies. Resources from the David A. Gitter Endowment for Contemporary China Studies will create an annual fellowship for immersive language study in the People’s Republic of China.
The endowment also enables the school to expand course offerings focused on contemporary (post-1949) China.
GW’s prominent Sigur Center for Asian Studies, situated at the Elliott School, will oversee the use of resources provided by the new endowment. The Sigur Center draws on the expertise of 60+ faculty throughout GW whose reputation has helped the university to have the only East Asia National Resource Center in Washington, D.C.
“This exceptional gift recognizes the field-defining work that the Sigur Center for Asian Studies is doing, and it will strengthen our offerings for students focused on China,” said Dr. Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliott School.
While a graduate student in Asian studies, David Gitter took full advantage of GW resources. These included the China Documentation Center (CDC), part of Gelman Library’s special collections. The CDC is widely known as one of the premier Chinese language collections in the world.
The hours that Gitter spent with the collection’s Chinese-language books and journals helped to shape his conviction that “advanced proficiency in the Chinese language, both written and spoken, is essential to a true understanding of Chinese culture, history, and politics.”
Gitter also has lived, worked, and studied in Beijing. As an expert on contemporary China, he has first-hand knowledge of the major role that the Chinese language plays in helping professional China-watchers make sound assessments and offer informed advice. Accordingly, the central purpose of the Gitter Endowment is to enable Elliott School graduate students with a focus on China to undertake immersive instruction in Mandarin where it is spoken.
“The People’s Republic of China is a major world power and of extreme importance to the United States,” Gitter said. “I want this endowment to help American scholars and practitioners acquire a deep and granular understanding of the PRC.”
Gitter founded the Center for Advanced China Research after graduating from the Elliott School in order to advance US understanding of China’s domestic politics, foreign affairs, and security policy. The organization quickly became an important resource for China specialists and media outlets. The David A. Gitter Endowment for Contemporary China Studies will extend the center’s work and secure its legacy.
“Given China’s role on the world stage, there is a critical need for a new cadre of experts who understand contemporary China—and are proficient in Mandarin,” Dean Ayres said.
“We also look forward to bringing experts to campus to teach new courses that will broaden understanding of the geopolitical, geoeconomic, and cultural aspects of modern-day China.”