Meet our Board

Dr. Harold "Brownie" Brown, director, retired in 2000 as professor emeritus of the University of Maine after 30 years of service. He is a graduate of the University of Maine, and served 4 years in the U.S. Navy. He began his teaching career as a science teacher in Maine and was later a principal. In 1967 he joined the faculty of the University of Maine. He served as 4-H State Program Coordinator from 1983 until his retirement, and was the State 4-H/Japan Exchange Coordinator for Maine from 1985-2000. He was a member of the National 4-H/Japanese Exchange Committee (now the International Program Committee or IPC) from 1992-1995. Other service activities have included the Governor's Advisory Council, Director of the Maine Junior Sportsman's Association, Deputy to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA (9 times), and a trustee of General Theology Seminary (in New York City). He is President of Maine's 4-H Foundation, Chair of the University President's Retiree Advisory Council, Member of the University President's Development Council, Member of the Board of Trustees of the University Foundation and President of the Board of Directors of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. In 2005, he was inducted into The National 4-H Hall of Fame. Brownie grew up in the western mountains of Maine and has always enjoyed the outdoors. He got his first fly rod at the age of nine. Right behind his joy of being a husband, father, and grandfather is his love of fly fishing. He has shared this passion by teaching many young people these skills. Lately, he has been involved in a program using fly fishing as a physical therapy activity for women and men who have had mastectomies. His favorite fish to pursue is the brook trout. An oft-quoted statement of Brownie's is "I never saw a trout that lives in an ugly place."

Dr. Suzanne Flynn, director, received her MS from the University of Puerto Rico and MA and PhD from Cornell University. Since 1981 Dr. Flynn has been a Professor of Linguistics and Language Acquisition at MIT. Her research focuses on the acquisition of various aspects of syntax by both children and adults in bilingual, second and third language acquisition contexts. This research is linked to current cognitive and linguistic theories. More recently, her work has focused on the neural representation of the multilingual brain. She has also begun focusing on the nature of language in individuals with early onset of Alzheimer's disease. She has published extensively in journals and has authored or co-edited several books. She is also the co-founding editor of Syntax: A Journal of Theoretical, Experimental and Interdisciplinary Research. She is or has been a member of several Boards of Directors; these include Belmont Day School, Modern Languages and Literature (CMU), Department of Anthropology (UMass) among others. She also has a clinical certification in Speech and Language Pathology. She is a housemaster at MIT along with her husband and son.

Dr. Ching-fen Hsiao, director, was born in Taiwan and educated at Tunghai University and Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Taiwan. He received M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University Theological Seminary. From 1967 until 1986 he was a professor and then president of Tainan Theological Seminary. In 1986 he became the Area Executive for East Asia and the Pacific for the United Church Board for World Ministries (in New York). In 2000 he left this position to become Executive Director of the Japan International Christian Foundation in New York. He has held a number of visiting professorships over the years, in Taiwan and Japan, including most recently at Yushan Theological College and Seminary. He has served as an editor of theological textbooks, and as officer in organizations focused on Christian higher education and on theological education in Asia. His work and volunteer commitments have taken him through Asia, Oceania, Australia, and New Zealand; places off the usual tourist route have included Myanmar and DPRK (North Korea). Dr. Hsiao relates an interesting experience in Pyongyang, DPRK, while serving as a delegate from North American churches bringing relief food during a famine. "It was a cold, January day during a power shortage. Despite the lack of heat, electricity, and food, people were friendly and eager to interact with us. I knew only a few words of Korean, but I and the locals used 'sign' and body language to communicate our good wishes to each other. 'Smile' is the best 'language.'"

Dr. Elizabeth (Betty) McCoy, director, retired from the Montana State University Extension Service in 2002 as professor emeritus. She served as the State 4-H Leader for 16 years, and was also a State 4-H Specialist focusing on volunteerism, a County Extension Agent, and taught in the Family and Consumer Science Department. She was a member of the National 4-H/Japanese Exchange Committee (now the International Program Committee or IPC) and served as its chair in 1998- 1999. Having been an International 4-H Youth Exchange delegate to Venezuela prior to starting a career, she has been a long time champion of international education through personal experiences. She currently is the chair of the Montana International Program Council, a newly formed advisory group focused on providing input to the 4- H Center for Youth Development (State 4-H Office). During her career, Betty served on several boards including the National 4-H Council, the Executive Institute for Fund Development and the International Program Review Team. She received, among others, the Outstanding IFYE Award given by the National IFYE Association for contributions to the international programs. Betty still works for MSU Extension on a Professional Appointment. Writing the History of Montana 4-H will be a priority until 2012 when 4- H celebrates 100 years in the state. Betty is a Montana native, growing up on a farm/ranch in the central part of the state. She received her degrees from Montana State University in Home Economics (Family Consumer Science) and Counseling. In retirement, she and her husband have returned to working the land, but this time putting up hay with their team of horses – she calls this recreational haying.

Dr. Yasuyuki "Yash" Owada, director and vice president and clerk, was born of Japanese parents in Manchuria, China. He was graduated from International Christian University in Tokyo, and received M.A. and Ed. D. degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York. After more than 8 years as an administrator and instructor at International Christian University, he joined the faculty of Johnston College (later Center for Integrative Studies) at the University of Redlands, Redlands, California in the field of anthropology and organizational behavior, and served as its director for ten years, retiring in 1999. Yash's enthusiasm for LEX/Hippo activities comes from his 30 years of eye-opening, soul-shaking experience at the Johnston Center. There, students learned, efficiently and productively, by teaching their professors. His many volunteer posts have included trusteeships of the Language Research Foundation, the LEX Institute, and the Japan International Christian University Foundation of New York.

Yo Sakakibara, director and president, was born in Fukushima, Japan. In 1962 he established the Tokyo English Center, an English-language school. He founded the Language Research Foundation in Massachusetts in 1968. At that time, he cooperated with renowned linguistic researchers at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to explore the nature of human communication. In 1971, he founded the Labo International Exchange Foundation in Tokyo, which developed innovative English-language instruction methods for children. After further exploration of the natural language acquisition process, especially in multilinguals, in 1981 he established the Institute for Language Experience, Experiment, and Exchange (LEX Institute) in Tokyo, which operates Hippo Family Clubs. The Transnational College of LEX (TCL) was established in 1984. TCL is a research facility for the examination of language as a function of natural science. Expansion of Hippo Family Clubs to the U.S., Mexico, and Korea followed. Mr. Sakakibara also serves as president of the LEX Institute.

Kenshi Suzuki, director and treasurer, was born in Nagoya, Japan, and received his B.A. in Political Science from Waseda University in Tokyo. At Waseda University he was a member of the Expedition Club, where he had many "transnational" adventures. He was deeply impressed by the natural way of life he encountered on his first visit to Indonesia in the 1960s. He worked for more than 10 years in the Labo organization in both the international youth exchange program between Japan and the U.S. and South Korea, and in the English instruction and youth development programs. He joined the LEX Institute at its formation and was quickly promoted to Managing Director for all of Japan in 1982. In 1998 he became vice president of LEX America and worked on location in the U.S. (in New York) until 2002. He currently is the Executive Vice President of the LEX Institute, as well as the Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee.

Elizabeth Victor, assistant clerk, was graduated from Amherst College in Massachusetts with a degree in fine arts. Two years spent living and teaching in rural Japan sealed her love for Japan and international education. She has experience managing international projects in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. She joined LEX in 1995 and currently serves as Executive Director. She is an accomplished potter and has served on the board of directors of Mudflat Studio and of Huan's Tai Chi.