KU News Release

Chinese language, culture expert to take helm at Confucius Institute

Sheree Willis

LAWRENCE — A expert on Chinese language, culture and education has been named executive director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Kansas.

Sheree Willis, who has been with the institute since its inception in 2006, assumed the post July 1. She succeeds William M. Tsutsui, professor and chair of the Department of History, who has been named associate dean of international studies for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Confucius Institute, at KU’s Edwards Campus in Overland Park, is a partnership between KU, the Office of Chinese Language Council International of the Chinese Ministry of Education and Huazhong Normal University. The institute enhances understanding of Chinese language and culture by offering courses to the public in the greater Kansas City area. The courses cover topics such as Mandarin language, Chinese customs, history and more. KU’s Confucius Institute was the fifth established in the United States.

Willis said the mission of the Confucius Institute is becoming more vital with the emergence of China as a major player in world affairs.

“It is no secret that it is becoming increasingly important for Americans to understand how to interact with China,” Willis said. “This is just as relevant here in the heartland as it is on the coasts. I meet people here every day — business people, doctors, adoptive parents, teachers — who want to know more about China. I feel strongly that anyone who wants to learn the Chinese language or understand more about China should have that opportunity.”

Willis, who has been at KU since 2001, has been an integral part of the Confucius Institute since it was founded. She served as an interpreter and liaison for negotiations between KU and the institute’s Chinese partner organizations. She worked closely with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Tsutsui and Chinese delegates during the negotiations.

From July 2006 through June of this year, Willis was associate director for programs, with primary responsibility for curriculum content, community program development and daily operations of the institute. Before joining the Confucius Institute, Willis worked with the Kansas-Asia Scholars Program, the Kansas/Asia Community Connection and other East Asia-related programs at the Center for East Asian Studies, where she will continue to take part in related projects. Willis has also organized and led several study tours of China for KU faculty and students.

Hemenway said Willis was a natural choice to lead the Confucius Institute.

“Sheree Willis has proven throughout her career to be extremely knowledgeable about China and how the United States should best interact with this important nation,” Hemenway said. “She is not only fluent in Mandarin, she has a keen insight into Chinese customs and education. I feel very confident with her at the helm of KU’s Confucius Institute.”

Before joining KU, Willis was a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State for eight years, including five years in China, where she was a consular officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai and a science and technology officer in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. She also worked as a Mandarin-English interpreter and translator for more than 10 years, with an emphasis in educational exchange, environmental projects, trade and legal interpreting. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from KU in East Asian languages and cultures with an emphasis in Chinese language and literature.

Willis said she looks forward to helping people broaden their understanding of China.

“Kids in rural schools, small-business owners, even executives in major corporations can all gain a competitive advantage through Chinese language and culture skills,” Willis said. “Our aim at the Confucius Institute is to serve the people of Kansas and our region by using distance learning technology, creative outreach programming and a broad range of partnerships to make Chinese language and culture more accessible.”

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.