Contact:
Jeremy Craig, 404-413-1357
University Relations
ATLANTA — Georgia State University Provost Risa Palm announced today (May 4) that Dr. Jun Liu, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Arizona, will become associate provost for international initiatives effective July 1.
Dr. Liu will help implement a goal of the university’s Strategic Plan to internationalize GSU’s academic activities and establish sustained international relationships that further the education, research and scholarship of its students and faculty.
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| Dr. Jun Liu |
“President Becker and I look forward to working with Dr. Liu to attain realization of the goal of the University Strategic Plan for distinction in globalizing the university and to advance the international aspects of the other goals of the plan,” Palm said.
“As a global citizen myself, I see the great potential in GSU to become a leader for internationalization for its significant purpose, compelling vision, inspiring values, and guiding principles,” Dr. Liu said. “I am proud of being part of this strategic leadership team to shape its future in the Olympic spirit.
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead the international initiatives for GSU, and to make an impact on U.S. higher education by creating synergies and excitement for faculty, students and local communities via an internationalized campus culture through innovation, creativity, collaboration and participation,” he added.
Dr. Liu, who earned his doctorate from Ohio State University, has been on the faculty of the Department of English at the University of Arizona since 1998. In 2007, he became the head to the department and the director of the Confucius Institute, and has also served as assistant vice provost for global initiatives at Arizona.
Dr. Liu also served as the founding executive director of the English Language Center at Shantou University in Guangdong, China, from 2004 to 2008. He is additionally a senior advisor for the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) and the vice president of the International Society of Chinese Language Teaching.
He is a nationally recognized leader in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages, as well as teaching of Chinese to speakers of other languages. Dr. Liu has an extensive background in garnering external funding, research and publications.
Dr. Liu will lead Georgia State’s charge to achieve distinction in globalizing the university, as outlined in the university’s newly adopted strategic plan. Under the long-term plan, GSU will lead in forming a global consortium of universities, leverage and expand on faculty teams that focus on externally funded research to address issues facing emerging nations, create a Georgia State University International Center and enhance the global competency of students, faculty and staff.
“I believe in internationalization and I believe that internationalization is the key to advance learning, scholarship and research; to build respect, partnerships and initiatives among different entities and peoples; and to enhance multicultural awareness and constructive leadership in a global community,” Dr. Liu said.
May 4, 2011