November 26, 2012

President Glassner reflects on Asia trip in Oregonian commentary

President Barry Glassner recently returned from a trip to Asia designed to deepen ties with alumni and parents, and build new relationships with local leaders, an experience highlighted in a recent Oregonian commentary.

President Barry Glassner recently returned from a trip to Asia designed to deepen ties with alumni and parents, and build new relationships with local leaders, an experience highlighted in a recent Oregonian commentary.

“It was incredibly affirming to witness the strong Lewis & Clark presence in Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai,” Glassner said. “At the events we held in each of those cities, I met many alumni and friends of the college who are business leaders, or who are barely out of Lewis & Clark and already engaged in exciting careers in Asia.”

Just 18 months ago, President Glassner presented a diploma to one young man with whom he spoke while in Tokyo. “Now, he is living in Japan and working as an account executive for a bilingual job-finding service akin to Monster.com,” Glassner said. “This young alumnus got his job as a result of his frequent use of that very service. Having noticed him on their company’s virtual job board, recruitment scouts invited him to interview; three months later, he was moving to Japan to take his new job.”

Glassner also met Jun Ge, a Lewis & Clark Law School graduate who is managing director of Intel China and who hosted the Shanghai event. Other attendees included parents of current students and recent alumni, as well as Dean Robert Klonoff from the law school.

“I was heartened by their strong allegiance to the college and their appreciation for the role that Lewis & Clark played in setting them, or their family members, on their productive paths,” Glassner said. “We saw the same level of enthusiasm at our event for high school counselors in Shanghai, a good sign for our continued ability to attract top international students.”

With nationally recognized overseas study programs and students from 66 countries on campus, Lewis & Clark has many connections with communities around the world. This trip helped strengthen trans-Pacific college and university relationships, such as the 40-year affiliation between Lewis & Clark and Waseda University in Tokyo, which provides enriching international study opportunities for students and professors from both institutions. During his time in Tokyo, Glassner visited with Vice President Katsuichi Uchida and staff from the Center of International Education at Waseda University.

Below, find a selection of photos from President Glassner’s travels. 

See more photos from Asia Read the Oregonian commentary