Chancellor to Meet with University Officials in Japan
JONESBORO – Arkansas State University Chancellor Kelly Damphousse will travel to Japan to visit with officials of Saitama University during the week of May 20th.
Saitama and A-State have worked together as partners in study abroad programs for the past several years, with students from each university taking classes at their respective campuses. Saitama invited Damphousse to speak to their students as well as to engage in discussions on how the two institutions can deepen their relationship. His visit is being funded by Saitama University.
“Broadening the scope of our global initiatives is one of my priorities as we go forward into the upcoming academic year,” Damphousse said prior to departure. “From our campus at Queretaro, Mexico, to the handful of agreements or relationships we have with other universities interested in the exchange of students, ideas and research, Arkansas State has a good starting point for a more robust program to assist our students and faculty with broader access to the world. I am very interested in learning more from our friends at Saitama about how we can create new opportunities for all our students.”
While in Japan, Damphousse also plans to meet with Arkansas State alumni living there. There are more than 100 A-State alumni in Japan. He also will meet with Japanese high school students who live in the Saitama/Tokyo region to recruit for Arkansas State. Dr. Thilla Sivakumaran (A-State’s director of international programs) and Damphousse’s wife, Beth, will also make the trip. Mrs. Damphousse is personally paying for all expenses associated with her travel.
Damphousse will return to Arkansas in time to participate in the upcoming Board of Trustees meeting on May 31.
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