The 29th annual J. Earl Moreland Lecture on Asia was held at Randolph-Macon College April 4, 2016. His Excellency, Chum Bun Rong, Cambodian Ambassador to the United States and Mexico, presented “Cambodia and the State of Cambodian-American Relations.” Prior to the lecture, His Excellency met with Randolph-Macon College students at a special reception.
RMC President Robert R. Lindgren welcomed the Ambassador and guests to the lecture.

Photos: Moreland Lecture

“What an enormous privilege that the Cambodian Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Chum Bun Rong, is our keynote speaker,” said Lindgren.  “Mr. Ambassador, our college is so honored by your presence. How wonderful that you are all here tonight, evidence that the RMC community shares a vision for deepening our awareness of the global community.”

His Excellency presented a history of Cambodia and spoke of the challenges that Cambodians have faced through the years, and those that they continue to face. He also shared his thoughts of the importance of looking forward and addressing opportunities to effect change in the 21st century. The Ambassador expressed his hope that the world can best effect change through the avenues of society, culture, partnerships and the economy.

Generous Donors
Mary Ding, and her father, the late Dr. Lik Ding, established the J. Earl Moreland Lecture Series to bring a heightened understanding of Asian affairs to RMC and its students. Dr. Ding, a member of the Class of 1949, created the lectureship in honor of his dear friend, J. Earl Moreland, the 11th president of Randolph-Macon. Lindgren thanked Mary Ding, who was in attendance, for her steadfast support of the lecture series.

“Because of the generosity of the Dings and so many other alumni and friends and members of the community, it is a truly extraordinary time in the life of Randolph-Macon College,” said Lindgren. “Mary, you are always so faithful in your attendance and support. Thank you.”

Ambassador Chum Bun Rong
His Excellency Bun Rong was appointed the Kingdom of Cambodia’s ambassador to the United States on August 3, 2015. The Ambassador also serves as ambassador to Mexico.
The Ambassador earned a bachelor’s degree in law and human sciences at Potsdam Academy in Germany. He served as a second lieutenant in Cambodia’s army from 1972 to 1975.

When the Khmer Rouge took over the country in 1975, he initially went into hiding, then was imprisoned by the regime.
In 1979, after Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia to knock out the Khmer Rouge government, The Ambassador was a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation under Foreign Minister Hun Sen. Beginning in 1991, The Ambassador was a member of the ruling Supreme National Council that existed in the run-up to UN-sponsored elections.

In 1994, His Excellency Bun Rong was named director general of the Social Fund of the Kingdom of Cambodia. In 2006, he was made deputy secretary general for the National Authority for Land Dispute Resolution. In 2008, The Ambassador was named an advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen and secretary general of Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, where he served until 2014.

The J. Earl Moreland Lecture on Asia
Each spring, the J. Earl Moreland Lecture on Asia brings a distinguished expert to the Randolph-Macon campus for a public lecture. The purpose of the lecture is to create greater student understanding and interest in Asian affairs through direct contact with distinguished scholars and prominent professionals.

The lecture series was established through a generous donation from the late Dr. Lik Kiu Ding ’49 to commemorate Dr. J. Earl Moreland, who served as president of Randolph-Macon from 1939-1967.

Previous Moreland Lecture guests include writer Evan Osnos; director Jia Zhangke, actress Zhao Tao, and Tom Vick, curator of Asian film, Smithsonian Institution; Yunsheng Huang, associate professor of Asian architecture, University of Virginia; and author Raj Patel.