Japan Study Colleges

Cornell College
Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Faculty
Noriko Ciochon – Japanese Language Instruction
Erin Davis – Sociology
Carol Enns - Psychology
A’amer Farooqi – Economics & Business
Doug Hanson – Art
Santhi Hejeebu – Economics & Business
Todd Knoop – Economics & Business
Gayle Luck – Education, Faculty Director for International Studies
Joseph Molleur – Religion
Stephen Saks - Religion
Aparna Thomas – Women’s Studies/Politics

Resources
We have a highly supportive and engaged group of Cornell College alumni who live in Japan. Betty Shibata (Togasaki), a 1952 graduate, was especially influential in organizing and supporting the planting of a grove of cherry trees on the Cornell campus (Fall ‘04).

East Asian Educational/Other Institutional Relationships
Japan:
Waseda University – Tokyo, Japan
-Psychology professor Carol Enns served as the Japan Study Resident Director for the 2006-2007 year

Aoyama Gakuin Women’s Junior College – Tokyo, Japan
For almost a decade, Cornell College has been invited to visit Aoyama Gakuin Women’s Junior College in Tokyo. Graduates of Aoyama Gakuin have often traveled to Mount Vernon, IA to enroll at Cornell College and complete a 4-year degree. To further formalize this relationship, the Cornell Student Ambassador Program, a competitive program for Cornell women was created in the spring of 2006. Students apply to become a Cornell Ambassador to Aoyama Gakuin by writing an essay, completing an interview and by submitting a faculty recommendation. Cornell ambassadors for 2008 are Allie Jagielo, Kelly Kall, Dyuti Majumdar, Jennifer Bays, and Farah Langton. During October of 2008, sociology professor Erin Davis and these 5 Cornell women will participate in a 10-day educational opportunity in Tokyo, Japan.  During October of 2007, Dr. Yuichi Sekiya (anthropology professor at Aoyama Gakuin) participated in a 10-day faculty exchange on the Cornell College campus.  In March, 2009, a small group of Aoyama Gakuin students will be traveling to the Cornell College campus to participate in a short-term educational exchange.  

Kyoto Seika University – Tokyo, Japan
Cornell has an official exchange agreement with Kyoto Seika that has brought students from Kyoto to Cornell for one semester. Cornell alum, Dr. Komei Go, has been instrumental in helping establish this program. Given the limited Japanese language background of most Cornell students, we have not yet been able to take advantage of the opportunity to send a student to Kyoto.

Korea:
Ewha Womans University Exchange – Seoul, South Korea
Sejong University Exchange – Seoul, South Korea
Sookmyung Women’s University Exchange – Seoul, South Korea
Yonsei University Exchange – Seoul, South Korea

Majors/Minors
Japanese language courses - Two levels of Japanese language are offered each year (first and second levels during one year, and third and fourth levels during alternate years)

Professional Development
Several members of the faculty have received internal grants that have made travel to and study in Asia possible.