Keynote Speaker:
Senator Paull Shin
Washington State Senate
Senator Paull Shin was born in 1935 and adopted by an American GI during the Korean War. Brought to the United States by his adoptive family, he began his education with a GED and went on to earn a Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington. He retired from teaching at the college level for 31 years, the last 26 years at Shoreline Community College in Seattle. Senator Shin serves as the chair of the International Relations Subcommittee, and as a vice chair of the Economic Development, Trade and Innovation Committee. He also serves on the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. He works indefatigably to promote international trade on behalf of the state of Washington. He is also interested in education and bringing jobs to the state. Senator Shin and his wife Donna have lived in Edmonds for more than 30 years. They have two children and five grandsons.
Elective Office: State Senate 1999 to present; State House of Representatives 1993-1994.
Special Committees, Councils and Boards: Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations; Joint Legislative Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs; Joint Legislative Committee on Trade Policy Oversight;
Past Committees: Governor’s Council on Higher Education; Governor’s Council on International Trade; Blue Ribbon Study on Washington Trade; Governor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs.
Civic Activities and Committees: University of Washington Friends of the Library; Children’s Deaconess Services Board Member; Edmonds Community College Foundation Board Member; YMCA Board Member; United Way Board Member; Cascade Bank Board Member; Asian American Political Action Civic Affairs Board Member; International Trade Fair Board Member; United Nations Dolman Society Board Member; Snohomish County Boy Scouts Board Member; KIRO Radio Board Member; World Association of Children and Parents (WACAP) Board Member; Northwest Region of Korean Americans President.
Awards: Ellis Island Medal of Honor, 2008. Honorary Doctorate, Kongju National University; Honorary Doctorate, Seoul Christian University; Honorary Doctorate, Konkuk University, Korea; Honorary Doctorate, Kunsan National University, Korea; Honorary Doctorate, Chosun University 2005; Spirit of Liberty Award, Ethnic Heritage Council, 2004; Overseas Korean of the Year, Korean Broadcasting System & Overseas Koreans Foundation, 2004; Honorary Doctorate in Political Science, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, 2002; Honorary Doctorate, Far Eastern State Technical University, Vladivostok 2000; Honorary Professor, Yanbian University of Science and Technology 1999; YMCA Outstanding Service Award 1998; Distinguished Alumni, Brigham Young University, 1997; Vocational Education Development Award.
Occupation: Retired Professor; small business owner.
Education: University of Washington, Ph.D. – 1977, Master of Arts - 1972; Master of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh - 1964, Bachelor of Arts; Brigham Young University – 1962.
