In April 2024, during my very first visit to Schreiner University, I stepped into the office of President Dr. Charlie McCormick. He warmly welcomed me, but before we could even begin our formal conversation, he eagerly pointed to a banner hanging on his wall and asked, “Do you know this university?”
I had actually noticed the Korean characters the moment I walked in. It was the banner of Hannam University, an institution founded by Rev. William Linton. Rev. Linton was a Southern Presbyterian missionary who arrived in Korea in 1912 at the young age of 21. Hannam University, a fellow member of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities (APCU), shares a long-standing relationship with Schreiner, having collaborated on student exchanges and summer Korean culture programs for years.
Looking at that banner, a clear vision emerged in my mind of how I could serve the Schreiner University community. Prior to joining Schreiner, alongside my doctoral studies, I had served as a part-time director at a non-profit organization for about seven years. My primary work there involved building relationships, drafting Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and organizing international conferences with universities, research institutions, and government agencies overseas.
I realized that my mission here was to leverage that experience to expand Schreiner’s international network by forging strong ties with Korean universities that share our Presbyterian heritage, just like Hannam University.
Almost immediately, I began researching potential partners. While many excellent universities were considered, we strategically focused on establishing relationships with Soongsil University, Keimyung University, and Seoul Women’s University. I prepared and sent MOU proposals to each university’s Office of International Affairs. What followed was a year-long journey of dedication, involving dozens of online meetings and hundreds of email exchanges, which culminated in the finalization of MOUs with each institution.
Through this meticulous groundwork, the detailed itinerary for our presidential delegation was set. From March 16 to March 24, 2026, the Schreiner University delegation embarked on this historic trip to South Korea.
Starting with this Prelude, I will be sharing a eight-part series documenting our journey, the achievements of this trip, and the future we are building together. The upcoming posts will cover:
- Prelude-The beginning
- Soongsil University
- Keimyung University
- Hannam University
- Seoul Women’s University
- PC(USA) Korea Mission Office and YAV program
- Saemoonan Presbyterian Church in Seoul, the first Presbyterian church
- Postlude: The Beginning of New Relationships
Stay tuned as we recount this incredible journey of expanding global partnerships and honoring our shared heritage!
#SchreinerUniversity #HigherEducation #HigherEd #PCUSA #InternationalRelations #MOU
