Christine Pilcavage - Managing Director - MIT-Japan Program

How long have you been working in Boston? 

I moved to Boston (Cambridge to be precise) about 20 years ago when I came to work

for a global health nonprofit called Management Sciences for Health (MSH). At MSH I

helped to manage the Iwamura Fellows Program and grants supporting a Japanese

NGO working in reproductive health issues in less developed countries.

MSH is an MIT ‘startup’ that was co-founded by Dr. Ron O’Connor who was inspired by

Dr. Noboru Iwamura, the sole survivor of his high school from the Hiroshima atomic

bombing who dedicated his life to improving the health of others.

I met Ron when I worked with the US Agency for International Development. Little did I

know my life would change when Ron asked me to come work for MSH. I was a

migratory bird only planning to stay in Boston for a few years, but I found a special “tree”

and married someone who was also in love with this beautiful city of Boston. And now

I’m working at MIT.

Chris with Professor Richard Samuels who created the MIT-Japan Program in 1981 as a first-of-its-kind program that prepares MIT students to be hands-on global citizens by providing opportunities to work and conduct research at leading Japanese universities, companies, and research institutions.

What do you do?

I believe I have a dream job. As the Managing Director of the MIT-Japan Program, I am privileged to work with MIT students, faculty and staff, share my culture with them

and bring Japan a little closer to our community. I help build partnerships with Japanese

corporations, research institutes, universities and startups, and connect MIT students

with research and internships in Japan. My portfolio also includes MIT study abroad

programs with Japanese universities, as well as promoting Japanese culture at MIT. I

believe I get to nurture students in my Program to be future “ambassadors” who build

bridges between our two countries.

I feel fortunate that I have been able to weave Japan into the fabric of my career. I started with going to Japan on the JET Programme after graduating from college and then on a fellowship with USAID that sent me to work with the Japan International Cooperation Agency after graduate school. I’ve worked with Parliamentarian Keizo Takemi on Global Health issues while he was at Harvard and now at my current position at MIT managing the MIT-Japan Program.

I also volunteer as a co-troop leader for Girls Scouts of the USA, serve as the co-chair

of the New England chapter of US-Japan Council, and serve on the board of the New England chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League.

Chris with former boss, Parliamentarian Keizo Takemi during the Japanese American Leadership Delegation visit in 2023

What are the benefits and challenges of working in Boston? 

I was born near Tokyo, but my Japanese mother is from Osaka so I grew up speaking

Osaka dialect. However, it’s not apparent to many people that I have Japanese heritage

because I have my father’s last name and I look a lot like him. I’ve now lived in the US

longer than I have in Japan so sometimes I’m a little too American in Japan or a little too

Japanese in the US or a little too Osaka-jin (someone from Osaka) all the time, and

fine-tuning these cultural differences can sometimes be challenging (or perhaps a

benefit?!).

Chris sharing Japanese culture on MIT's campus

What is your favorite thing about Boston?  

I love how walkable and compact Boston is! You have all the great things that a major

city has to offer—world-class sports, vibrant arts scene, inspiring lectures at higher

institutions—and you can experience it all on foot or by taking public transportation... plus we have the beautiful four seasons to enjoy!

Chris with her MIT students in Kyoto

 MIT-Japan Program Website