Duane Nellis, Reflections

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’s 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 Ohio University from Chubu University in 1979 at Ohio University’s 175th anniversary, and in 2004, when Ohio University 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 Ohio University’s 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 Ohio University, 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 Ohio University to Chubu University to meet with Chubu University’s 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 Ohio University have faculty expertise.

To me, prioritizing international engagement at Ohio University 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 Ohio University 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, Ohio University 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 Ohio University’s Cutler Hall cupola in the center of Chubu campus.

I had the opportunity to visit and engage with Chubu students who had visited Ohio University as well as dialoguing with current Ohio University 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’s governing board, Atsuo Iiyoshi.

As is well known, Ohio University 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.

Chubu University President Osamu Ishihara and President Duane Nellis

President Nellis with Chubu University Chairperson Atsuo Iiyoshi

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.

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