The Triangle

Issue date: 8/28/09 Section: News

Media Credit: MCT

Both China and Drexel share an association with the symbol of a dragon, though the relationship between the two goes much deeper, according to Roy Kim, associate professor of political science. In recent years Drexel has emphasized creating and expanding connections with China through the efforts of faculty and alumni as well as broader University efforts, according to Julie Mostov, associate vice provost for international programs and professor of political science.

The importance of faculty connections to China is evident as a major event in Drexel's relationship with China. H.H. Sun, Drexel emeritus professor of biomedical engineering, was a classmate of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Both men attended Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Jiang's son Jiang Mian Heng later attended Drexel as a doctoral student studying with Sun. In 1997, while he was president, the elder Jiang visited the University.

Kim said the elder Jiang did not forget this connection to Drexel. In the late 1990s Kim, who served as an adviser to the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, traveled with the committee delegation to China. While in China the delegation spoke with Jiang, and according to Kim, when Jiang discovered Kim was from Drexel, the president became more open with the delegation. During the meetings Jiang informed the delegates of his plans to retire as president of China, according to Kim.

The younger Jiang is now vice president of China's Academy of Sciences and "a highly respected person in China," Kim said. Kim believes Drexel should consider inviting the younger Jiang to graduation ceremonies to receive an honorary degree.

Members of Drexel including Sun recently returned to Shanghai in order to "solidify and embellish [Drexel's] relationship" with universities in the area, Mostov said.

Drexel is also working on forming relationships with China through University alums.

Drexel is "trying to build on individual relationships with China and turn them into University relationships," Mostov said.

Drexel alumni, as well as the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, helped bring the recent InkNotInk exhibit to the University. Drexel was the only school in the United States to host the exhibit, which featured works from 40 Chinese artists. The show was the first survey-style contemporary Chinese art show in the greater Philadelphia area, according to the press release on the exhibit.

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