CLS has a dedicated board of directors, an international advisory committee and an editorial board. All consist of renowned scholars and Lao professionals from across the business, education, international development, legal, and arts sectors. The Executive Director leads CLS’ operations and manages consultants and works closely with the Program Director to implement and oversee programs, development and communications. CLS’ volunteers include a graphic artist, a bookkeeper, and an organizational development consultant specializing in nonprofit capacity building. The Journal of Lao Studies is managed by a volunteer, multidisciplinary editorial board representing a number of academic institutions from around the world.
Vinya Sysamouth, Ph.D.
CLS Executive Director | California
As a Lao refugee who escaped to a Thai refugee camp at the age of 9, Dr Vinya juggled many responsibilities, such as babysitting his younger sister while learning Lao, Thai and English in school. Fortunately, a Lutheran Church in Wisconsin sponsored his family, who then arrived in Milwaukee in the 80s.
John Hartmann, Ph.D.
Distinguished Teaching Professor and Board of Trustees Professor Emeritus | Northern Illinois University (NIU), Illinois (ret.)
Dr Hartmann is an experienced researcher specializing in the Tai Dam linguistics, a minority language from northwest Vietnam. His first grant to do fieldwork was in Iowa, where many Lao refugees reside after being air-lifted with the end of the Vietnam War. With the help of George Henry, a then-graduate student and current assistant computer science chair at NIU, he converted the alpha-numeric field data into printable Tai Dam script digitally, which could only be reproduced by hand with Chinese brush and ink previously. He has also partnered with numerous organizations, including the National Science Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Thai government and U.S. Department of Education, to create online learning tools for teachers and students globally.
Carol J. Compton
Professor | Cornell University, New York
Dr Carol is a retired linguist, teacher, and administrator of Southeast Asian language programs. Specifically, she supervised teaching the Lao language. Her dedication to the region’s studies is shown through her involvement with the Southeast Asian academic community as an editor, consultant, and volunteer.
Khammany Mathavongsy
Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Partnership Manager at the United Way Bay Area | California
At SEARAC, Mr Mathavongsy helps facilitate the resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam via leadership development, capacity building and public policy advocacy.
Phoumy Sayavong, Ph.D. (Treasurer)
Senior Research & Planning Analyst, Former CLS Board Member | Berkeley City College, California
Dr Sayavong has led the Lao Traditions, Language & Cultures (TLC) program to increase access to Lao arts and culture for both the Lao community and general public.
Vinya Sysamouth, Ph.D.
CLS Executive Director | California
As a Lao refugee who escaped to a Thai refugee camp at the age of 9, Dr Vinya juggled many responsibilities, such as babysitting his younger sister while learning Lao, Thai and English in school. Fortunately, a Lutheran Church in Wisconsin sponsored his family, who then arrived in Milwaukee in the 80s.
Gregory Green, MA
Curator | Cornell University, New York
Mr Green’s research specializes in the history and culture of the Lao people in Laos and Thailand. Broadly, his work compares the history, peoples, cultures and languages of mainland Southeast Asia. Notably, he has helped develop the Southeast Asia Digital Library, a collaborative project involving the Southeast Asia library collections around the US and numerous international partners. He is currently Curator of the John M. Echols Collection on Southeast Asia at Cornell University Library, and has worked as a curator of the Donn V. Hart Southeast Asia Collection at Northern Illinois University Libraries and as the Southeast Asia bibliographer at Arizona State University Libraries.
P. Mike Rattanasengchanh, Ph.D. (Secretary)
Assistant Professor & Current Board Member, Secretary and Editor at CLS | Midwestern State University, Texas
Dr Rattanasengchanh’s research and teaching interests are U.S. and Asian History, specifically Southeast and East Asia, U.S. foreign relations, right-wing governments, public diplomacy and propaganda, Vietnam War, Cold War, and counterinsurgency.
Prany Sananikone, MA (Board Vice-Chair)
Director of Diversity Relations and Educational Programs | University of California, Irvine, California (UCI) (ret.)
At UCI, he coordinates the Diversity Development Certificate Program and the UCI Orientation and Professional Training program for limited English-speaking employees and co-directs the Diversity in Medicine course. His work covers diversity, cross-cultural communication, and conflict management. He was also the Director of Health, Education, and Community Programs at the University Extension.
Phoumy Sayavong, Ph.D. (Treasurer)
Senior Research & Planning Analyst at Berkeley City College, Former CLS Board Member | California
Dr Sayavong has led the Lao Traditions, Language & Cultures (TLC) program to increase access to Lao arts and culture for both the Lao community and general public.
Christine Su, Ph.D.
AANAPISI | College of San Mateo, California
Dr Su is an experienced education professional who collaborates with diverse populations in two- and four-year colleges and universities at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She is skilled in working with Nonprofit Organizations, International Relations, Fundraising, Leadership, Conference and Workshop Management and Training. Furthermore, she is also a freelance writer and editor.
Vinya Sysamouth, Ph.D.
CLS Executive Director | California
As a Lao refugee who escaped to a Thai refugee camp at the age of 9, Dr Vinya juggled many responsibilities, such as babysitting his younger sister while learning Lao, Thai and English in school. Fortunately, a Lutheran Church in Wisconsin sponsored his family, who then arrived in Milwaukee in the 80s.
Ryan Wolfson-Ford, Ph.D. (Board Chair)
Southeast Asian Reference Specialist | Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Dr Wolfson-Ford’s research focuses on the Lao elite, palm leaf manuscripts, intellectual, cultural and political history. He also published a book which argues that democracy and anti-communism were central to the Royal Lao Government (1945-1975), as was the belief in a Lao race.
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Larry Ashmun, MA
Senior Academic Librarian, Southeast Asian & Hmong Studies Bibliographer | University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
Mr Ashmun specializes in mainland Southeast Asia, particularly, Thailand. Notably, he gave a presentation on the UW-Madison headquarted “Digital Asia Library (DAL) and Portal to Asian Internet Resources (PAIR) Initiative” at the International Conference (Asia-Pacific) Challenges and Opportunities for Library and Information professionals in Knowledge Management and the Digital Age, in Thailand, March 2003. He was awarded a Fulbright for Vietnam in 2003 and a Distinguished Prefix title in 2013.
John Hartmann, Ph.D.
Distinguished Teaching Professor and Board of Trustees Professor Emeritus | Northern Illinois University (NIU), Illinois (ret.)
Dr Hartmann is an experienced researcher specializing in the Tai Dam linguistics, a minority language from northwest Vietnam. His first grant to do fieldwork was in Iowa, where many Lao refugees reside after being air-lifted with the end of the Vietnam War. With the help of George Henry, a then-graduate student and current assistant computer science chair at NIU, he converted the alpha-numeric field data into printable Tai Dam script digitally, which could only be reproduced by hand with Chinese brush and ink previously. He has also partnered with numerous organizations, including the National Science Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Thai government and U.S. Department of Education, to create online learning tools for teachers and students globally.
P. Mike Rattanasengchanh, Ph.D. (Editor-in-Chief)
Gregory Green, MA
Vatthana Pholsena, Ph.D.
Ryan Wolfson-Ford, Ph.D.
