Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is to appoint Kathleen Stephens, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, as a chair professor for its diplomacy course, officials said Monday.

Stephens will be teaching at the HUFS division of language and diplomacy, which combines language study and a training course for diplomatic skills. It was created in 2014 to foster diplomats and members of international organizations.

“The practical knowledge, experience and know-how Stephens possesses will be a tremendous help to (language and diplomacy) students at HUFS looking to become experts in the field of diplomacy,” said HUFS president Kim In-chul.

A career diplomat of 35 years, she served as a U.S. envoy from 2008 to 2011. Soon after her tenure as an ambassador to South Korea ended, she joined the Korean studies program at Stanford University’s Asia-Pacific Research Center as its 2013-14 fellow.

She concluded her 35 years of diplomatic service last year after a brief stint as an interim ambassador to India ended in December.

By Yoon MIn-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)