Shanghai – March 05, 2008: Described by some attendees as an energizing event, nearly forty Ohio State University alumni and guests living in Shanghai gathered tonight to hear from visiting OSU Provost Joseph A. Alutto.

“I thought Provost Alutto did a great job of connecting everyone back to the school,” David Whittingham said of Alutto’s address. “I know I left the event with a renewed sense of commitment.”

Another alumni, Maggie Xiang of Shanghai , echoed the same sentiment. “It’s great the university holds these kinds of events here,” Xiang says. “It means a lot to those of us who graduated from OSU and live here in Shanghai, and it’s important to prospective students here who are interested in attending Ohio State."

In speaking to the attendees, Provost Alutto reminded everyone how different China was more than two decades earlier when he was here, in part, to assist in the development of the first MBA program in China. His work has since been awarded by both the China Ministry of Education and the Asia-Pacific MBA Association.  

The event, hosted by OSU and coordinated by the Fisher College of Business and the Shanghai Buckeyes Club, was held at the JW Marriott, Peoples Square, in Shanghai.

“It was a lot of fun to bring together Shanghai area alumni, prospective students and special guests from the Shanghai area,” says Rob Benedetti, lead organizer in Shanghai for the event and the Director of the Shanghai Buckeyes Club.

In addition to alumni and their spouses, and prospective students who have applied for admission to the OSU Fisher College of Business, invited guests included representatives of the Ohio Department of Development, the US-China Business Council and Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.   

Adjourning to the tastefully decorated dining room, the group began the dinner portion of the evening with a rendition of school alma mater, “Carmen Ohio”.  “What fun, I haven’t sung that song for 25 years,” Whittingham added.     

While dining on an East-West dinner buffet, the guests were updated by Provost Alutto about the latest developments at OSU, the university’s plans for future missions to China, and the importance of staying connected, both, by actively participating in the Shanghai Buckeyes Club, and when visiting Columbus. “We’re in a lifelong relationship together,” Provost Alutto said.

After the Alutto address, the group was briefed by Dr. Jian Xiaobin, Director China Center ( Qingdao ) about the Chinese Flagship Program (CFP). Based, in part, on OSU’s existing Chinese-language programs, and its excellence in those programs, OSU is one of a handful of universities in the United States that has been awarded a multi-year federal program to provide advance Chinese language training in China. CFP is the signature program of the grant.  

At the conclusion of the Jian address, CFP students Andrew Garner and Patrick Longenbaker treated the audience to a demonstration of their training and skills.

“We expect to host more of these events around China and Asia , ”says Jim Miller, Associate to the Dean of Fisher College of Business. Miller accompanied Provost Alutto during the week-long trip through Greater China.

“It’s important to bring alumni together with prospective students,” Miller adds. “Seeing the university demonstrate its commitment to China in hosting these kinds of events, as well as the students having a chance to meet with alumni and working professionals helps the alumni and the students get a better sense of what a global reach Ohio State and Fisher College have in China, and how that reach can improve their careers and their experiences.”