M-Squared Academic Coordinator Named

February 23, 2009

Posted February 23, 2009

Monterey Institute President Sunder Ramaswamy today announced a series of changes representing the next phase of the Institute’s ongoing reorganization initiative. Key among them is the appointment of Professor Tsuneo Akaha as M² Academic Program Coordinator. In this newly created role, Professor Akaha will be responsible for leading the Monterey Institute component of the MIIS - Middlebury College (M²) Academic Program Committee as it develops new academic initiatives that build on the common strengths of the two schools - languages and linguistics, international policy and management, and international environmental policy.

Professor Akaha, a MIIS faculty member since 1989, established and directed the Center for East Asian Studies which sponsors research, guest lectures, visiting scholars, and seminars, as well as internships and scholarships to students studying in this region. He also regularly teaches in the Institute’s Monterey Model courses, collaborating with language studies colleagues as well as offering content courses in his native language of Japanese.

President Ramaswamy simultaneously announced several other changes connected with the reorganization effort:

• The Office of Alumni Relations has merged into the Institutional Advancement Office.
• The Institute’s webmaster now reports to the Communications Office.
• All activities related to a student's enrollment at the Institute will be combined into the Office of Admissions, including the Financial Aid Office and the Enrollment Management Office, effective March 1.
• The recently announced Dean of Advising, Careers, and Student Services will oversee three areas: Records, Office of Student Services, and a new Academic and Career Advising Center. This consolidation will become effective June 1.

These changes, along with those under development for the Institute’s academic programs, are designed to create a revitalized organizational structure that is flexible, dynamic, and relevant, and to provide a solid foundation for successful integration with Middlebury College in summer 2010.

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