USF Presents Global Leadership Award to Dr. Young–Sun Lee, President of Hallym University & Vice Chancellor Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, University of Cape Coast

Two world-renowned international scholars will receive the President’s Global Leadership Award at the Tampa fall semester commencement ceremony. Recognized for their outstanding contributions to the global education system, President Young-Sun Lee of Hallym University, South Korea and Vice Chancellor Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana will be presented the award by USF System President Judy Genshaft.

Established by the university during its 50^th anniversary year in 2006, the Global Leadership Award honors individuals who have achieved exemplary accomplishments in international leadership or global relations.

Dr. Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang
Dr. Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, the first female vice chancellor of any state university in Ghana, is a literary historian, with a special interest in encouraging, empowering and inspiring girls and young women through higher education. The author of nine books and numerous publications, she has served as head of the university’s English department, dean of the faculty of arts, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and academic director of the School for International Training in the History and Cultures of the African Diaspora.

In March 2007, she was one of five eminent scholars selected from around the world to present at the United Nations headquarters in New York during the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. In October 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Her acceptance of the President’s Global Leadership Award marks another step in a long-term and warm relationship between UCC and USF.

Dr. Young–Sun Lee
Dr. Young–Sun Lee, President of Hallym University in South Korea is a widely published and renowned economist. Over the last 28 years, he has held several teaching and administrative positions at Yonsei University, South Korea’s oldest higher education institution and has been a visiting professor at the University of Maryland where he received his graduate and doctorate degrees.

“I am very honored to accept the President’s Global Leadership Award.  Being counted among the list of previous winners is indeed an honor for which I am deeply grateful and more than a little humbled,” said Dr. Lee.

Apart from his strong academic affiliations, Dr. Lee also serves as President of the Korean Economic Association and as an outside director of POSCO, a global steel group.

Like USF, Hallym University too is a young university. Established in January 1982 with 228 students enrolled in four departments, the university has grown at an exponential rate. Today, Hallym University is affiliated with five hospitals, has an established Academy of Sciences, a Foreign Language Education Center, seven major colleges and graduate schools, and attracts a diverse international student population.

While at USF, President Lee will sign a student exchange agreement allowing students from both universities to study overseas.