Petrice R. Flowers has been appointed director of the Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs (CIPA) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Established in 2022 with Congressional funding, CIPA serves as a university-based think tank addressing the complex security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Flowers is a distinguished scholar and professor at the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution in the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences.
Flowers succeeds Kristi Govella, an assistant professor in the Asian studies department, who served as the founding director of CIPA.
“I am honored to lead the Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs and excited to build on the strong foundation established by Dr. Govella,” said Flowers. “This is a crucial time for advancing research and fostering collaboration on the key security issues affecting the Indo-Pacific region.”
- Related UH News story: $1M grant to launch Indo-Pacific affairs initiative at UH Mānoa, September 27, 2022
Flowers has been a faculty member at UH Mānoa since 2004 and steps into the role with an extensive background in international relations, specializing in Japan and global human rights norms.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Flowers into this leadership role,” said Cathryn Clayton, chair of the Asian studies department. “Her commitment to interdisciplinary research and her deep expertise in international relations make her an ideal fit to lead CIPA into the future.”
More on CIPA
CIPA tackles complex issues by integrating fields such as economics, technology, environmental science and public health. Flowers is known for her research on diplomacy, transnational networks, and refugee policies in Japan. Under her leadership, CIPA plans to launch new initiatives, including public lectures, workshops, and professional development opportunities for students.
