Ryan Rohrbach is a third-year student at the University at Buffalo, pursuing degrees in Political Science and International Studies with an East Asia concentration. Ryan’s interest in studying East Asian politics comes from the lack of exposure he had to international politics, specifically in Asia, as a kid growing up in a small farm town. Along with intensive Korean-language study through the Department of State Critical Language Scholarship program, he took classes on foreign policy analysis, international relations in East Asia, and authoritarian regimes at Korea University in Seoul.

While studying abroad in Seoul, he spent three days with North Korean escapees during a program organized by South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense. Reflecting on this program showed him the importance of addressing the North Korean state, the North Korean people, and North Korean escapees institutionally and societally in a productive manner. He believes that organizations such as the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea are invaluable in achieving this goal. Ryan is looking forward to pursuing his interests in security studies, East Asian international relations, U.S.-Korea relations, and development and human rights in North Korea at HRNK and in a future graduate school program.