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NUS FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONOURS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Five eminent individuals lauded for their contributions towards nation-building, growth of the University and promotion of the arts and social sciences.
IN APRIL, THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (NUS) FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (FASS) celebrated the achievements of five eminent alumni at the FASS Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Awards 2021, in recognition of their distinguished scholarship and outstanding service to the Faculty, the University and Singapore. The Awards were established in 2015. 2021’s award recipients include Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Peter Tan (Arts and Social Sciences ’92); Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mrs Josephine Teo (Arts and Social Sciences ’91); Resident Playwright of The Necessary Stage, Mr Haresh Sharma (Arts and Social Sciences ’90); Mayor of Central Singapore District, Ms Denise Phua (Arts and Social Sciences ’83); and former Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party, Mr Low Thia Khiang (Arts and Social Sciences ’81). These outstanding recipients have also achieved excellence in various fields locally and internationally, which has contributed to
the betterment and promotion of the arts and social sciences. Typically held annually, the 2021 awards ceremony was postponed to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85) said, “I would like to convey my heartiest congratulations to the five outstanding FASS alumni award recipients. These five individuals have contributed to Singapore in distinctive ways, and their passion, perseverance and pursuit of excellence serve as an inspiration to current and future generations of FASS students. NUS is proud to have them as our alumni, and I hope they will continue to maintain close ties with their alma mater and with FASS. There is much we can do together, to nurture and inspire the next generation of Singaporeans to realise their potential.” Professor Lionel Wee (Arts and Social Sciences ’88), Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, added, “The recipients of the FASS Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award 2021 have all played pivotal roles both in Singapore and internationally. Be it through the arts, shaping
From left to right: Professor Lionel Wee (Dean, NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Mr Haresh Sharma, Mr Peter Tan, Professor Tan Eng Chye (NUS President), Mrs Josephine Teo, Mr Low Thia Khiang, Ms Denise Phua, Mr Bernard Toh (Director, NUS Alumni Relations).
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of policies, diplomatic relations or community engagement, our alumni award recipients epitomise the FASS quality of being of service to the wider community. We are extremely proud of their achievements.” RECIPIENTS OF THE FASS DISTINGUISHED ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ALUMNI AWARD 2021 MR PETER TAN Mr Peter Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Japanese Studies from NUS in 1992. He was appointed Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan in September 2019. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Secretary for Southeast Asia and ASEAN in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) from January 2015 to September 2019. Mr Tan was Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (concurrently accredited to Mongolia) from February 2011 to January 2015. Since joining the MFA in 1992, he has served in various capacities on issues related to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, the United Nations and Technical Cooperation. Mr Tan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008. MRS JOSEPHINE TEO Minister Josephine Teo graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Economics from NUS in 1991, winning several honours including the Rachel Meyer Book Prize for being the Best Woman Student. She was appointed Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity on 15 May 2021. She is also a member of the National Jobs Council and the Future Economy Council, and has been concurrently the Second Minister for Home Affairs since May 2018. Formerly the Minister for Manpower from May 2018 till May 2021, Mrs Teo also previously served
