（Inauguration ceremony for the SISU Intercultural Institute. Photo provided by Steve J. Kulich）

As Executive Director of SII, Steve has many responsibilities. Admittedly relying heavily on his team for administration, research collaboration, and the wide range of roles the SII is asked to perform, he feels that his greatest strengths are in understanding the history of the field, getting to know key scholars, building international cooperation, and sharing this with his students in the classroom.“I’m good at encouraging other people and motivating other people to do their research. In fact, the motto of our Institute is ‘developing a discipline to develop people.’ I really feel that intercultural teaching, training and doing research makes you more aware of how to compare, contrast and adapt, so people can grow as better people. We call it intercultural competence, international awareness, global citizenship and many different terms, so I feel pleased I’ve been able to invest in that.”

（Steve is the co-editor of China Intercultural Communication Annual (2017). Photo provided by Steve J. Kulich）

（Steve and SII’s fellow team in the early years of SII. Photo provided by Steve J. Kulich）