From top: Nermine Atteya, Modern Academy for Computer Science and Management Technology, Egypt; Nergis Aziz, Suleyman Sah University, Istanbul, Turkey; Shusheng Sun, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China; Honglin Yang, Hunan University, China; and Jun Ma, Shenyang University of Technology, China

This past academic year, five visiting scholars brought their unique insights to business classes, giving students a world-class opportunity. “This increases international exposure for our students,” said Dean Richard Skolnik. “It prepares them for the workforce of the 21st century.”

The program extends the reach and enriches the reputation of the business school, which also has an agreement to offer degrees in three courses of study to students from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in Hangzhou, China.

“Oswego’s business school is one of the best in the SUNY system,” said Shusheng Sun, visiting from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology. “[It] is relatively small compared to many other schools, but students and faculty have a very close and harmonious relationship.”

Nergis Aziz of Suleyman Sah University in Istanbul, Turkey, said she intends to continue work with Oswego faculty when she returns home.

“[I came to Oswego] for the teaching experience, but also for the research,” said Honglin Yang, an associate professor at Hunan University in China.

The school welcomed another Chinese scholar, Jun Ma from the Shenyang University of Technology, and Nermine Atteya from the Modern Academy for Computer Science and Management Technology in Cairo.

Atteya said leadership, motivation, mutual respect, cooperation and collaboration were paramount to her experience.

“SUNY Oswego has a lot of privileges in addition to its uniqueness. It is characterized by the diversity of professors, staff and visiting scholars,” she said. “The work climate is healthy, positive and focuses on interpersonal relationships.”

Yang praised the care put into making students successful.

“Using the heart to teach each student impresses me so much,” said Yang. “All faculty and staff devote their time and energy to developing students’ abilities and skills.”

By all counts, time spent at Oswego left a major impression on these scholars, but for reasons beyond complex subjects like organizational structure studies and quantitative analysis for management.

“It was an unforgettable experience for me,” said Ma. In addition to his teaching and presenting at Quest, he also organized student badminton and pool tournaments.

“I think it is significant to value people regardless of their ethnicities, religious preferences, lifestyles and points of view … Diversity just enriches mutual understanding,” said Aziz. “It is a great opportunity to live all together in the colorful world where each color contributes to peace and friendship.”

Since 2007, Oswego has hosted more than 60 students from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. A recently inked two-plus-two agreement allows ZSTU students to finish degrees in business administration, human resource management and marketing at Oswego.

The advice of his late father really resonated with Richard Clarke ’82 as he approached age 50 in April. A few months and 19,350 feet later, Clarke reached great heights atop one of the world’s tallest mountains.

“Of all the things I’ve done, this was a killer,” said Clarke of scaling Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. “It was just so satisfying to get to the top.

Guide Babuu, Richard Clarke ’82, friend Kent Hanson and assistant guide Sira stand atop Kilimanjaro, roughly 19,350 feet above sea level.

“It was just breathtaking — you’re on top of the clouds,” he said.

The altitude and air made the four-day trek particularly difficult, even for the avid cyclist, runner and general adventurer.

To build his endurance in the months leading up to his climb, Clarke played
tennis — for four to five hours a day, most days of the week. The strategy proved effective in training for his 15-hour days walking up Kilimanjaro and developing a mean backhand.

Clarke nurtured his adventurous spirit at Oswego, where he loved cycling all over Upstate New York. Bicycle trips to Syracuse, Watertown and Canada are fond memories, he said.

Late Professor Emeritus Dr. Girgis Ghobrial had a huge influence on Clarke, who initially came to Oswego for meteorology and graduated with a degree in geography. On his trip that included a safari and a stop in Eygpt, Clarke recalled many of the stories Ghobrial, a native of the country, would tell about his homeland.

— Shane M. Liebler