Are at isctrilat d. C. So my name is Alexander Evans and of the your master for todays event and i currently work as the research and Program Coordinator at the center for east Asian Studies within Johns Hopkins sais. Perhaps more important for todays event i am an alum of the 63rd japanamerican student conference back in 2011. I think in a lot of ways it was bad experience that really continued to motivate me to study japan put you on the path that i am in the creek of that experience. Particularly given that it was right after the march 11 triple disaster, an opportunity when japan was not open to many students to be able to go in and have persontoperson exchange with something that i would say it may sound corny but i changed my life. And so before we get started today will have a couple introductory marks so i would first like to introduce ms. Linda butcher, secular director of isc. Prior to this role she served as a director of Media Relations and Public Affairs at the current Eco