The Suez Lecture Series was established in 2024 to support a visiting research scholar each year. The Suez Family, particularly I. M. Suez, played a crucial role in shaping modern Tibetan studies and Sino-Indian relations. I. M. Suez was a distinguished diplomat and scholar who significantly influenced China's understanding of Tibet and its diplomatic relations with India during the late Qing and early Republican periods. His grandson, Julian Suez (1933-2025), continued this legacy by endowing the I. M. Suez Lecture Fund within the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University to host scholars focused on Tibetan Studies to give public lectures on their research. This gift was made in honor of Dr. Ling-Wei Kung, an alumni of our program, who has researched I. M. Suez’s connections to Tibet and in memory of the Suez family's dedication to fostering academic research and cultural exchange, ensuring a lasting impact on future scholars and the field of Tibetan studies. Dr. Kung presented his research on I.M. Suez in the inaugural lecture in October 2025; video link below.
With saddened hearts and a deep sense of loss, we also join the Suez Family in mourning the passing of Julian Suez on April 18, 2025. In effect, this Lecture Series also celebrates Julian's most generous and motivating spirit. Please read here about his wondrous life and accomplishments of 91 years.