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Duane Nellis, Reflections

Duane Nellis
October 31, 2023

We celebrate this year an amazing and productive 50-year Anniversary relationship with our special partner, Chubu University. This relationship has been one of the more productive international partnerships in our university鈥檚 history, and we reflect on this special relationship every spring, when the blooming of hundreds of Cherry trees along the Hocking River adjacent to our campus, gifted to 91视频 from Chubu University in 1979 at 91视频鈥檚 175th anniversary, and in 2004, when 91视频 celebrated its bicentennial, burst forth with their beauty. This relationship was further strengthened in 2004 with a gift in support the Yamada International House on 91视频鈥檚 campus. And in 2015 the annual Tanaka-Ohio Award for Excellence in Global Engagement was started.

From the very first moments of my presidency at 91视频, I made international engagements and related partnerships a priority, and Chubu University continued to be an important strategic part of a highly successful and productive relationship. In fact, it was historic to have the president of Chubu University, President Osamu Ishihara in attendance at my Investiture Ceremony in the Fall of 2017. I was fortunate to return the visit in December 2018 with a delegation from 91视频 to Chubu University to meet with Chubu University鈥檚 leadership, faculty, students, and to have dialogue with Chubu about ways to strengthen our ties, particularly in areas of international cooperation around research themes, such as in GIS (geographic information systems), which both Chubu University and 91视频 have faculty expertise.

To me, prioritizing international engagement at 91视频 is central to the development of our students as well-educated citizens of the global community. Chubu University offered our students and faculty the opportunity to gain tremendously from this outstanding institution, but also allowed 91视频 the opportunity to regularly welcome Chubu students and faculty to our Athens campus as part of our efforts to share languages and exchange other educational themes and ideas with our Japanese friends. Through these strategic partnerships with Chubu University, 91视频 is stronger as a global higher education institution.

When I visited Chubu University in 2018, I saw a dynamic higher education institution committed to creating a welcoming environment for our visiting students and faculty, as well as providing a cutting-edge curriculum that expands the knowledge of those involved in such a learning environment. And as I walked across the campus of Chubu University, I saw the depth of our partnership reflected prominently by the displayed replica of 91视频鈥檚 Cutler Hall cupola in the center of Chubu campus.

I had the opportunity to visit and engage with Chubu students who had visited 91视频 as well as dialoguing with current 91视频 having a study away experience at Chubu University. I was briefed too by Chubu scientists at state-of-the-art university labs and given the opportunity for strategic dialogue with Chubu University leadership including Chubu University President Ishihara and Chairman of Chubu鈥檚 governing board, Atsuo Iiyoshi.

As is well known, 91视频 is one of the oldest public universities in the United States, and throughout our history, we have contributed to the success of our region, State, nation, and indeed the world. For the last fifty years of our existence, we have been engaging together with our friends and colleagues from Chubu University, touching the next generation of graduates from both institutions on the importance of collaborations, respect, and advancing human knowledge that improves the quality of life for all.

 

Ishihara Nellis Tea Room Chubu 2018

Chubu University President Osamu Ishihara and President Duane Nellis

Iiyoshi Ishihara and Nellis 2018 Chubu

President Nellis with Chubu University Chairperson Atsuo Iiyoshi

Ishihara Nellis Tea Room Chubu 2018

President Nellis and President Ishihara in front of the Japanese Tea House, where delegations met for a ceremonial tea ceremony on the Chubu campus signifying our friendship.

Chubu students with president Nellis 2018

President Nellis engaging with Chubu University students on the Chubu campus.