Stony Brook University has taken another bold step in developing its international outreach and services with the creation of the China Center.
On Friday, November 10, Stony Brook University celebrated the grand opening of the China Center with a festive ribbon cutting ceremony featuring student performers and special guests. Yumin Zhao, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, joined Dr. Jun Liu, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Founding Director of the China Center; Lindsi Walker, Senior Assistant Dean, International Academic Programs and Services; and President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. MD to officially open the center’s doors for the first time. Located in the Charles B. Wang Center, the China Center will be a centralized hub for all of the University’s China initiatives and provide a second home to international students in need of assistance.
“Stony Brook University is dedicated to international education and supporting communities near and far,” said President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. “We also know that creating an inclusive and welcoming environment is essential to the well-being and success of all our students. We have more than 5,500 international students and scholars on our campus right now, and as many of our peer institutions, China is the top country of origin. We asked ourselves, what can we do to better serve this population? And how can we most effectively strengthen our relationships with our partners around the world? The answer was the China Center.”
The China Center will help to
- ensure that our Chinese international students become acclimated to and thrive at Stony Brook
- recruit more and higher-achieving graduate and undergraduate international students from China
- develop Chinese alumni chapters in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and
- deepen strategic relationships with our partner universities in the areas of research, student exchange and dual degree programs
“The China Center hosted the first national conference on the success of Chinese international students last April, and is already recruiting in China for the Fall 2018 semester with the Graduate School and Undergraduate Admissions,” Dr. Liu said. “The first training groups from partner universities are set to come in December, and the office is already planning major events this April for newly admitted international students, their parents, and Stony Brook University Alumni in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou respectively.”
The creation of the center was facilitated by Dr. Liu and his staff in the Office of Global Affairs.
–Shelley Catalano
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