MISSOULA — A $5.1 million grant from the Japanese government will establish the Mansfield Professorship in Japan and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the University of Montana.
The endowed professorship, a prestigious position that is one of the highest honors a faculty member can achieve, attracts talented professors who increase the academic impact and profile of the institution, according to a news release.
The Mansfield Chair promotes interdisciplinary educational opportunities in Japanese and Indo-Pacific studies, including trade, rural issues, public health, language, society, and culture.
On May 2, Consul General of Japan in Seattle and Consul General Makoto Iyori visited UM to commemorate the grant award, and attended a celebratory luncheon hosted by UM President Seth Bodner and Mansfield Center Executive Director Deena Mansour. did.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Montana Department of Commerce Secretary Paul Greene, Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis, UM Foundation President and CEO Cindy Williams, Mansfield Center Advisory Board members, and other state and state officials. Local dignitaries also attended.
“Thanks to your generosity, we can better support our common interests in promoting deeper understanding of Japanese politics, foreign policy, Japan-U.S. relations, and research and exchange on promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.” “We can do that,” Bodnar said. .
Ryan Breneck/University of Montana
“The Mansfield Center is deeply grateful for the support of the Japanese government,” Mansour said. “Professor Mansfield's endowment establishes the University of Montana as a national leader in Japanese issues and is a testament to the unwavering loyalty and vital importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance and the vital role the Mansfield Center plays in this relationship. .”
The Japanese government awarded this grant in recognition of Mike Mansfield, the longest-serving ambassador to Japan (1977-1988).
The White House issued a joint statement during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to the United States in April.
The document acknowledged both countries' recognition of Ambassador Mansfield's accomplishments and the contributions of the Mansfield Center, and said it welcomed the creation of the Mansfield Chair at UM.
For more than 40 years, the Mansfield Center has fostered educational exchange between youth in Montana and Japan and supported faculty in interdisciplinary teaching and collaborative research.
During his time as Ambassador, Mansfield leveraged his solid background in Asian affairs to tackle difficult bilateral trade and defense issues. He famously said that the Japan-U.S. alliance is “above all the most important bilateral relationship in the world.”
Ryan Breneck/University of Montana
“This grant reflects Mr. Mansfield’s enduring legacy of addressing the complex issues facing the world today through deep cultural understanding and academic rigor,” said Brian Doodle, University Professor of Japanese. said the associate professor. “We are excited about the wide range of new courses made possible by this gift, which will not only complement our students’ cultural and linguistic training, but ultimately better prepare them to work in the public and private sectors. It will also be.”
Reflecting Mansfield's lasting influence, UM's School of World Languages and Cultures offers the largest number of Japanese language courses in the state, and the Japanese Language and Literature program is UM's second largest language-based program. is.
Each year, large numbers of UM students study at one of our eight partner universities in Japan. Similarly, visiting Japanese students seeking degrees enrich UM's campus community and develop lifelong friendships with American students.
For more information about Mansfield Center, please visit www.mansfieldcenter.org.
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