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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.

 

 

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.