KRISTA A. FORSGREN
Founder & Director of Windows on Asia

Krista's fascination with Asia began as she grew up in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by innumerable Asian friends, and amidst a rich diversity of Asian-American cultures. She started her formal study of Asia at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, where she studied Asian economics, history and religion, as well as Japanese language.

During and after college, Krista spent time studying and working in Tokyo, Japan, and in Shanxi Province, located in northern China. In Shanxi, she taught at a teachers' college and worked for the United Nations, while studying Chinese language and Tai Chi Chu'an.

Upon her return to the United States, Krista entered Yale University's graduate program in East Asian Studies, focusing on modern Chinese history. While at Yale, she worked for renowned Chinese historian Jonathan Spence, and also developed a federally-funded program on Chinese history, culture and language, for third-graders at an urban elementary school.

After completing her studies, Krista worked for one of the world's largest law firms, developing business opportunities in China and Central Asia. As part of her work, Krista expanded several language and culture training programs for retail and service-industry businesses, which she had developed while in college.

Krista has worked with numerous schools around the country to develop Asian studies programs, from Asian history and culture courses to language immersion programs. In addition, she has offered courses on Chinese culture and society at the State Department's Foreign Service Institute, and has facilitated educational programs for teachers at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art at the Freer and Sackler Galleries.