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History
Rev. Bryant Drake (1895-1979) joined the Kobe College Corporation
Board of Directors in 1948, served as President 1954-70, and continued
as an active Board member until his death. He was deeply involved
in higher education as a one-time college president and as an administrator
with the United Church of Christ. In 1961, he was awarded the Fourth
Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese Government for his
services on behalf of education in Japan. In 1982, the KCC Board
of Directors voted to establish an endowed chair at Kobe College
in his honor, the Bryant Drake Guest Professorship. Following the
death of Dr. Drake's widow, Alberta, the Drake family requested
that the professorship be renamed the Bryant and Alberta Drake Guest
Professorship.
Position
The Bryant and Alberta Drake Guest Professor at Kobe College is
a one-year appointment for a qualified scholar in a field named
by Kobe College. The appointment begins in April.
Qualifications
* Ph.D. and established
credentials as a teacher and scholar.
* Interest in actively promoting exchange and understanding between
Japan and the U.S.
* Involvement with the teaching process.
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The
Bryant Drake Professor for April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011 is Owen
Montague, who will teach in the contemporary dance program.
Professor Montague's
appointment was confirmed by the Kobe College Board of Trustees in November.
He has been a visiting professor at Kobe College for the past two years.
Through granting him the Bryant Drake professorship, KCC-JEE has enabled
Professor Montague, an experienced choreographer and highly celebrated
guest professor, to continue his important work at Kobe College.
About Mr. Montague: Upon
graduation from The National Ballet School of Canada, Mr. Montague entered
into a professional dance career with The National Ballet of Canada, where
he quickly achieved the position of Principal Dancer. He has worked with
the Netherlands Dans Theater under Jiri Kylian and also with the Aterballetto
in Italy. As a freelance dance artist, he found his voice as a teacher,
choreographer and coach. In addition to his other accomplishments, he
has also collaborated on projects in film and theatre.

The Dance Program at Kobe College has already gained distinction
in Japan under the artistic direction of Toru Shimazaki, an internationally
recognized choreographer and teacher.

The 2008-2009
Bryant Drake Guest Professor was
Dr.
Edward K. Chan, PhD
Assistant Prof. of English
Kennesaw State University
Our 2008-9 Drake Guest Professor, Professor Edward (Ed)
Chan was welcomed by the Kobe College English Department(, and began
teaching) in April of 2008. At Kennesaw State University,
Atlanta, (where he was graduated from,) he was active in
promoting student diversity. At KC, (besides English,) he taught
a variety of courses, such as Cinematic Transaction between Japan
and the West, Race and Utopia, etc. all of which are very popular
among the students.
Dr. Edward K. Chan received his PhD from the University of Rochester,
MA from California State University in Fullerton, and BA from the
University of California, Riverside. Dr. Chan has taught at
Rochester Institute of Technonogy, and also at Wabash College before
coming to Kennesaw State University in 2003.
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