USC caps off week’s worth of outreach in Taipei

A high-level delegation led by USC President C. L. Max Nikias completed a successful week of outreach and connections in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei on Feb. 21. The delegation’s purpose was to strengthen existing links with Taiwanese institutions and explore new opportunities for partnerships in Taiwan.

“USC is committed to supporting scholarly talent across the globe, and Taiwan has long been a source of outstanding students and research partnerships for our university,” Nikias said. “I am confident that this delegation will help strengthen USC’s engagement with Taiwanese institutions and open new opportunities for collaboration.”

During the week-long visit, USC delegates — including USC Dornsife Dean Amber Miller and USC Trustee David Dornsife and his wife, Dana Dornsife —  met with Chen Chien-jen, vice president of Taiwan, as well as several partners across government, industry and academia while connecting with the university’s growing base of alumni, parents, prospective students and friends. A Feb. 20 reception hosted by the university attracted more than 400 friends and supporters, as well as local heads of schools and academic partners.

More than 400 USC friends and supporters, as well as academic partners, attended a reception in Taiwan during a visit by a delegation from USC. Photo by Dun-Huang Wang.

“USC has longstanding ties in the Pacific Rim, and this trip redoubles our efforts with an important partner in the Asian region,” said Anthony Bailey, USC vice president for strategic and global initiatives.

On Feb. 21, delegation members visited National Taiwan University (NTU), where they met with their counterparts from NTU’s colleges and professional schools to discuss possible programs and exchanges. In his welcoming remarks, NTU President Pan Chyr-Yang noted the two universities’ many points of intersection, including student exchange, internship programs and membership in the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. Both he and Nikias serve on the steering committee of the organization.

USC currently enrolls 443 students from Taiwan, the university’s fourth-largest source of international students. The USC office in Taiwan, opened in 1998, helps facilitate academic partnerships, attract prospective students and engage with the more than 4,000 alumni living and working in Taiwan.

USC’s Taiwan delegation included:

• President C. L. Max Nikias and his wife, Niki C. Nikias
• USC Trustee David Dornsife and his wife, Dana Dornsife
• USC Trustee Daniel Tsai and his wife, Irene Tsai
• USC Trustee Mitchell Lew and his wife, Deana Lew
• USC Trustee Kathy Leventhal
• University advisor Leo Chu
• Amber Miller, dean of USC Dornsife
• Eric Abelev, executive director of public relations
• Katharine Harrington, vice president of admissions and planning
• Brenda Maceo, vice president of public relations and marketing
• Anthony Bailey, vice president for strategic and global initiatives
• Albert Checcio, senior vice president for university advancement
• Elizabeth Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts
• James Ellis, dean of the USC Marshall School of Business
• Rohit Varma, dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC
• Yannis Yortsos, dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering
• Mark Humayun, University Professor of Ophthalmology
• C.-C. Jay Kuo, Dean’s Professor of Electrical Engineering