During the week of May 13 – 17, JICUF hosted a series of events at ICU to celebrate the opening of our office on campus! The events included three days of an office open house, a grants showcase, a discussion about JICUF and ICU’s history and vision for the future, and a special evening reception for the ICU community. We are delighted to report that the ICU community welcomed JICUF with open arms.

Having an office at ICU is already making a major difference. It has deepened our relationship with the ICU community and raised awareness about JICUF on campus. The office is led by Japan Office Program Manager Hideko Matsuyama and supported by three newly hired Student Ambassadors.

Office Open House
Our office open houses were held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, inviting members of the community to stop by for coffee and donuts. Over the three days, around 80 people visited the office. The majority were students, but we also had several faculty and staff drop by.

Grants Showcase
On Wednesday, we organized a grants showcase in the dining hall, featuring nine recently funded student and faculty projects. Although attendance was modest, the event was a fantastic opportunity for those gathered to learn about the innovative endeavors supported by JICUF.

Evening Reception
Immediately following the grants showcase, JICUF hosted a reception for the ICU community, also held in the dining hall. Over 120 people attended this lively event. The program included welcome remarks from President and CEO Paul Hastings, a self-introduction from Hideko Matsuyama and the three newly hired Student Ambassadors, congratulatory words from President Shoichiro Iwakiri, closing remarks from ICU’s Board Chair Hirotaka Takeuchi, and a jazz performance by four talented students. It was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the 70+ year partnership between JICUF and ICU and the opening of our new office.

Photo by Naoki Beppu (JICUF Photo Intern)

History and Vision Event
On Thursday afternoon, Professor Emeritus Bill Steele and Paul Hastings gave talks about the history and vision of ICU and JICUF. This event was facilitated by PhD students Eiman Barakat and Michinori Suzuki. Bill’s talk highlighted ICU’s history, values, and vision, while Paul’s talk focused on JICUF’s long-standing partnership with ICU.

Photo by Naoki Beppu (JICUF Photo Intern)

Overall, the week was a tremendous success, solidifying our presence on the ICU campus and fostering deeper connections within the community. We look forward to continuing our work and collaboration with ICU in the coming years.