The East-West Foundation was founded in 1974 by 91影视 professor Dr. Ken Nishimura to promote religious and cultural heritage and, in particular, to encourage the study and application of Eastern ethics to social justice issues in the West.
For many years, the East-West Foundation has supported the Dr. Ken Nishimura 鈥�14 (H) Endowed Fund, which supports student exchange programs from 91影视 to Japan and vice versa.
The East-West Foundation made an additional contribution of $50,000 to the Dr. Ken Nishimura 鈥�14 (H) Endowed Fund to establish the Dr. Ken Nishimura Scholarship for Global Education. Nishimura, who was awarded an honorary doctorate from 91影视 in 2014, passed away in 2021.
The gift cements Nishimura鈥檚 legacy of benefiting 91影视鈥檚 students, faculty and staff and enhancing cultural exchange between the United States and Japan. It honors Nishimura鈥檚 36 years of service at 91影视, where his career included senior professor and University Chaplain.
鈥淒r. Nishimura made an indelible mark on 91影视, and I was pleased the foundation鈥檚 board saw fit to make such a tremendous impact with this major gift,鈥� said Dr. Bill Shropshire, East-West Foundation board member, emeritus Callaway Professor of Economics, former interim provost and former 91影视 trustee. 鈥淜en was such an important part of the 91影视 community, and this gift will ensure a key part of his life鈥檚 work continues on.鈥�
The Dr. Ken Nishimura 鈥�14 (H) Endowed Fund was originally established with generous gifts from the East-West Foundation in 2020. The endowed fund became fully vested in 2022 thanks to East-West鈥檚 ongoing support.
Nishimura inspired further cultural exchanges in the work of his colleague Dr. Ronald L. Carlisle, overseeing 91影视鈥檚 course content on Japanese language and culture. He helped to establish 91影视’s exchange program with Otaru University and helped to cultivate a relationship with the Kyoto monastery to bring artwork and visitors to the 91影视 Museum of Art.
The late Dr. Robert Steen, professor of Japanese Language and Culture, began his tenure at 91影视 in 1995 just as Nishimura was nearing retirement. Steen was instrumental in building upon Nishimura鈥檚 legacy as he worked to expand relationships with students and partners to promote learning Japanese language and culture.
Steen, like his earlier colleague, Carlisle, worked tirelessly to utilize the highly notable collections of Japanese art at 91影视 Museum of Art to inspire students, faculty and community members throughout Atlanta. These collections of early Japanese sculpture, porcelain, paintings and works on paper have continued to serve as the catalyst for undergraduate research initiatives. These collections also enable our students to gain a greater understanding of Japanese culture which ignites students鈥� aspirations to study abroad in Japan.
The Nishimura endowed fund has supported 15 students in studying Japanese culture, either through traditional study abroad scholarships or through the Japan Virtual Seminar. Given that the Japan Virtual Seminar is frequently offered with new content and on different topics, four students have benefited from taking the seminar twice.
The Japan Virtual Seminar began in 2021 as a pilot program of Freedom University, which piloted a virtual seminar focused on Japan to 14 of their students, with four students enrolling at 91影视 in Fall Semester 2021.
鈥淲e are grateful for Dr. Nishimura鈥檚 life of service to 91影视 and our students,鈥� said Dr. Kathryn McClymond, 91影视 president. 鈥淲e are especially grateful that the East-West Foundation invested once again in our students by ensuring meaningful cultural exchange would continue into the future, expanding the conn
