Dede Bartlett: I have always been passionately interested in the Silk Road and I have been fortunate to visit a number of the surrounding countries. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to come here; in fact I sought it out. Having said that, I was not prepared for how amazingly warm, hospitable and friendly the people are. I have been here a little over a week now and there have been so many acts of kindness on the part of total strangers, on the part of people who knew me only slightly, I have been simply amazed. I don't think I've ever experienced this in other countries to such a degree.

　BG: Are there any specific incidents you can recall?

　DB: I went with fellow Trustee Emita Hill to Karakol last weekend and we had a marvelous time. We visited the livestock market on Sunday morning and the splendid wooden Orthodox Church. Then we traveled back to Bishkek and stopped for a cup of tea between near Cholpon Ata. I left the tearoom to wash my hands and walked out to the car leaving my camera behind. I hadn't realized my camera was missing until suddenly, the owner ran out with my camera and gave it to me with all smiles. I was astonished, because in countless other countries that camera would have been gone forever. And here were kind people who were helping a stranger out of the goodness of their hearts. I wished this happened more often in my country!

　BG: Please share your thoughts about stepping into AUCA for the first time.

　DB: I'm amazed at the diversity of the students. Although I am from New York City, which is a very diverse city, I was surprised at what a cosmopolitan gathering of eager people you have here. I had the opportunity to meet with some students and recent graduates, and I was very impressed at how bright and motivated they are! I lecture on a lot of college campuses around the United States, and you can really tell who is motivated and who is just warming the seat. Students here are definitely not warming the seat, and I am very impressed with that.

　BG: What do you like to do in your downtime? What are your hobbies and interests?

　DB: Well, I do adore traveling, and I particularly enjoy archaeology, so being able to travel to AUCA is such a natural fit for me. I get a chance to combine my interests in higher education with a passion for seeing what I think are some of the last "special" places in the world, and I think this a special place. It's also a culture in transition, and that excites me. The region has an exceptionally rich archeological past. I spent two hours in the State Historical Museum in Almaty looking at marvelous Scythian artifacts, and I spent several hours at the National History Museum here in Bishkek looking at similar artifacts. The ancient and modern cultures of Kyrgyzstan deserve to be better known to a wider audience. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of ignorance and misunderstanding in the United States about Central Asia. My countrymen are generally unaware of the long and rich history of the region, and we need to educate thought leaders about AUCA's roles in educating the next generation of economic, political and social leaders of the region.

　I also love cooking. I just spent 3 hours in 5 different markets here in Bishkek looking for different spices. There are so many different spices that exist here that I cannot find in New York, including 5 or 6 varieties of peppers, several different types of cumin and a granulated lemon that is quite rare! You have two types of fabulous rice from Osh and Uzgen that I'm hoping to bring back because I'd love to make plov. I also bought spices for lagman. As you can see, the amazing food of this region adds to my enjoyment of the entire experience.

　BG: What other parts of the world do you like to travel to?

　DB: Well, I've been fortunate to have worked for two multinational companies, so when I was with the Mobil Corporation, I worked in the Middle East, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Western Europe. When I was with Altria, the former Philip Morris, I worked in Australia, Central America and Eastern Europe. I was very fortunate to be able to indulge so many of my outside interests and to work with a variety of different people and find ways of achieving common objectives across cultural barriers. That's extremely rewarding.

　BG: You've had a remarkable career, climbing up to the highest positions in some of the largest corporations in the United States. What have been your guiding philosophies that have helped you achieve such success?

　DB: Well, first of all, I don't think there's any way that anybody gets to the top of any organization without acknowledging a little bit of good fortune. I worked hard, but so did a lot of other people. Being at the right place at the right time is an act of God. However, at some point in everyone's career, bad things happen, and bad things happened to me as well. Your mentor may get fired or go to another company. I am convinced that as a result of globalization, every person working today will be a victim of downsizing, mergers, outsourcing or some unpleasant change. When I lecture to college students in the United States, I always tell them that it's how they respond to these setbacks that will spell the difference between success or failure.

　I am a great believer in the need to reinvent oneself. I've probably had seven different careers within those two companies, and a lot of it was due to my reinventing myself. I looked for what needed to be done, found a niche and did my job very well. So what does that take? It takes hard work, it takes organization, it takes good communication skills, but it also takes risk-taking. You've got to be willing to, as a friend of mine writes, jump from one trapeze to the next. And it's scary. But I believe that you don't really have a choice. You have to. And the first time you do it it's really scary, but the second time, you've got more self-confidence.

　BG: You are involved in a number of domestic violence prevention organizations. Please talk about your involvement in this issue.

　DB: I'm chair of the National Domestic Hotline Advisory Board, and I'm on the boards of a number of other domestic violence organizations in the United States. I started a domestic violence workplace program at Altria 12 years ago, and I'm very pleased that it has become a $50 million philanthropic program. I am most proud of this because it gave voice to people who had no voice, and it gives comfort to people who are in desperate need. And it helped shine a light on a horrible part of life for hundreds of millions of women around the world. Domestic violence is a plague that flourishes in the dark. I have always believed that if we make people aware, action gets taken, laws get written, the needy get help, and we raise the standards of acceptable behavior.

　BG: You won the International Women's Forum "Women Who Make a Difference" Award in 2005. Was that in recognition of your work in the social service sector?

　DB: It was in recognition of the work I've done to help victims of domestic violence in the United States and overseas. The International Women's Forum is an international organization of women leaders in business, philanthropy, the arts, non-profit, and government around the world. The award was enormously gratifying because my peers are superb women of achievement. It's extraordinary to be recognized by people whom you hold in great esteem.

　BG: Why did you decide to become an AUCA trustee?

　DB: I am passionate about the region, and I talked to Trustee Emita Hill, a fellow member of the Women's Forum about AUCA. I also met with Trustee Scott Horton. After doing further research, I met with Ellen Hurwitz, and I asked all three if they thought I could help. They said I could and that's why I am here.

　BG: What is your role on the Board of Trustees?

　DB: My role is development, which is another way of saying fund-raising. Because my background has been in marketing, I hope to provide some insights and some strategies that will enable AUCA to become better known among thought leaders around the United States. We already have some programs and initiatives going forward that will start to bear fruit fairly soon. I intend to utilize Ellen's three visits to the U.S. each year to extend AUCA's support network. I will also help Ellen speak with important groups and members of the press. AUCA has a terrific story to tell.

　BG: What kind of role do you envision for AUCA in Central Asia?

　DB: It seems to me that AUCA fills an absolutely critical niche in Central Asia. AUCA is a prestigious university that is educating the future social, economic and government leaders of the region. I can't think of anything more important for the countries in the area and for the larger countries of the world. As such, the University deserves widespread recognition and support.

　BG: In your opinions how do you empower women to start taking more leadership roles in government here in Central Asia when there are so few women in such positions today? Can you change the individual, or is it up to the broader society?

　DB: That's an excellent question. As you imply, there will always be these tensions in society. My father once told me that nobody gives up power willingly. But one of the most exciting developments around the world that may change this power dynamic is the growth of women-owned businesses. It has been shown time and again that when women own their businesses and control their money, they are able to educate their children and take care of their families and be independent. Often leadership flows from that. Of course, women's empowerment is translated in different ways in different societies. However, something that seems to be universal is that when young children see their mothers as strong and independent, it has an amazing effect on the attitudes of young boys and girls growing up. The roots of change are always with that next generation.

　BG: What would you say to women here at AUCA, who may be unsure about what their role will be in the competitive marketplace?

　I would say several things: First of all, education is a lifelong experience, and it is vital to keep learning new skills and be on the look out for new opportunities. Secondly, women must be especially prepared to manage their own lives and have their own money. Marriages falter, careers change and unforeseen difficulties occur. But keeping skills current and evolving and reinventing yourself as new opportunities arise is vital to survival and the well-being of the family.