Submitted by Grays Harbor College
Grays Harbor College President Jim Minkler will deliver four commencement addresses this week, before he even has attended a graduation ceremony at GHC.
Minkler is traveling to Japan, a trip he has made more than 20 times, many taken during his years as an administrator with Spokane Falls Community College. But now that he has become the president at GHC, he has been invited to deliver formal commencement speeches to students completing allied health programs at four specialty colleges that are part of Osaka Jikei Colleges. The school year in Japan typically ends in March and the new school year begins in April.
Traveling as a guest of Osaka Jikei Colleges, he will give his speech four times in four days to hundreds of graduates at each college. Then next fall, the first group of 30-40 Nursing students from these schools will visit the GHC campus for a short-term program.
“I hope this will lead to many more exchanges for our students and faculty, both in Japan and elsewhere, not only in nursing, but there may be opportunities in Human Services as well,” Minkler commented. In addition to meeting with presidents at each of the four colleges, he will also meet Chinese college presidents.
Although he speaks Japanese, Minkler’s speeches will be delivered in English with an interpreter.
