Japan dean selection narrows down to two
A pair of finalists are left in a semester-long hunt for the next Temple University Japan dean
Christopher Wink
Issue date: 11/27/07 Section: News
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The names of two Americans, with fluency in Japanese and distinguished careers in Asia, were released over the past week. Both made appearances on Main Campus for the latest stage of a multi-step interview process to become dean of Temple's growing Tokyo campus. There is not a set date for a final decision yet, although it is expected before the end of the calendar year.
Matthew J. Wilson, 37, current associate dean and chief legal counsel for TUJ, fielded questions from students and staff in two sessions last Tuesday in the Student Center.
Bruce Stronach, 57, is now the president of a mid-sized university in Yokohama, a city of 3.5 million about 20 miles south of Japan's capital and largest city. Stronach faced students and staff yesterday in a similar session.
Wilson has been with TUJ for the past four-and-a-half years and has rapidly ascended through administrative ranks in that time.
Originally from Utah, Wilson said he first discovered a passion for Japan as a teenager during a year-long missionary trip with the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-Day Saints. He was sent to Hokkaido, the northernmost Japanese island.
"Japan got into my blood," he said. "I don't think it ever will get out."
After returning in 1990, Wilson pursued a law degree from Temple. In 1997, he spent a semester at TUJ before graduating in 1999.
He was taken on as a professor of law at TUJ in April 2003 and began what has been a rapid ascension. Just two months later, he was named the law program's director. Then, a little more than a year later, he was installed both as TUJ's chief legal counsel and associate dean. Those positions were coupled with a semester as director of TUJ's undergraduate program last spring.
If appointed, he would be the youngest dean in that campus's history.
But he said he doesn't think this should be something to overcome.
"It would be great for an American university to step up and say we choose ability over age," he said.
He also considers his tenure at TUJ to be a valuable asset.
"I won't have an on-the-job learning period," he said.
Stronach is a campus outsider with an academic career that spans three decades and two continents.
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