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Aoyama Gakuin University Holds Presidential and Vice Presidential Inauguration Ceremony

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2019.12.16

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Aoyama Gakuin University Holds Presidential and Vice Presidential Inauguration Ceremony

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On Monday, December 16, 2019, the Aoyama Gakuin University Presidential and Vice Presidential Inauguration Ceremony was held at The Charles Oscar Miller Memorial Chapel. The ceremony was officiated by University Dean of Religion SHIOTANI Naoya.

Following a prayer by Aoyama Gakuin Dean of Religion OOSHIMA Chikara, an oath was taken by Dean of Religion SHIOTANI, Chancellor YAMAMOTO Yoshiharu, newly appointed President SAKAMOTO Hiroshi (professor, Department of History, College of Literature), newly appointed Vice President INAZUMI Hiroshige (professor, Department of Social Informatics, School of Social Informatics), newly appointed Vice President KONISHI Noriyuki (professor, Graduate School of Professional Accountancy, Aoyama Gakuin University Professional Graduate Schools), and newly appointed Vice President UCHIDA Tatsuya (professor, Department of International Economics, School of International Politics, Economics and Communication).

Following the oath, Chancellor YAMAMOTO introduced the new president's and vice presidents' personal histories and specializations, after which the newly appointed members delivered their inaugural addresses.

President SAKAMOTO, the 19th person to occupy the position at Aoyama Gakuin University, discussed his aspirations in his address: "As we carry out this inauguration ceremony, the one thing that keeps coming to mind is Providentia. I am just an ordinary history teacher, so I consider myself completely unsuited as president in the University's modern-day era of innovation and change. Even if we were to go back 100 years in time, we would certainly find an identically ordinary professor of classical and ancient history just like me. Why an average person such as myself should be appointed university president in such an important time of change is unfathomable, no matter how you think about it. Therefore, I can only conclude that this decision was made as part of Providentia's plan, based on knowledge far surpassing that of humans, and I plan to move forward based on my unwavering faith in this belief. Firm adherence to the spirit of our founders and full support for academic freedom are the only things for which I strive. In other words, I plan to protect preserve school traditions rooted in 145 years of history and heritage while making efforts to ensure that all teaching faculty and other staff members, as well as University students, will share and understand our approach of education based upon the Christian faith. To these ends, I will value each and every person around me, every day, as I fulfill the duties with which I have been tasked."

Following President SAKAMOTO's address, Vice President INAZUMI (in charge of school and student affairs), Vice President KONISHI (general affairs), and Vice President UCHIDA (public relations and future planning) conveyed their goals and ambitions as well. Board of Trustees Chair HOTTA Nobumitsu made a final congratulatory address, after which Dean of Religion OOSHIMA concluded the ceremony with a blessing.