Hart Fessenden, co-Founder and Treasurer of the Foundation, served in the Marine Corps in China in 1946 which began his interest in Asia. After graduating from the Harvard Law School he worked at Kelley Drye & Warren in New York City. He then became a commercial banker and for over ten years he was a Senior Vice President of Bankers Trust Company in charge of its Asia Division. In that capacity he traveled extensively in Asia. He also served as General Counsel of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., a government agency. Thereafter he taught at the Stern School of Business at New York University as an adjunct professor. He has also served on the Boards of Trustees of several schools.