FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact  Ted Gover, Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc. 
562.494.3800

Presidents, Top Officials of The Claremont Colleges to Embark on Historic Academic Visit to Singapore, China

Delegation to introduce Colleges, conduct academic outreach; tour begins in Singapore with gala reception hosted by President SR Nathan at the Istana

Claremont, CA – Presidents and other top officials of The Claremont Colleges, which include five of the top 50 universities in the United States, will conduct a historic goodwill visit of Singapore and China March 27-April 5, 2008 to provide information about the Colleges and their status as a premiere destination for secondary education in the United States.

The tour will begin March 27 with a gala reception in Singapore hosted by President Sellapan Rama (SR) Nathan at the Istana. The delegation also is scheduled to meet with high level government and academic officials in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing in the days following...

The delegation will visit some of the leading universities in Asia, conduct academic outreach and emphasize the liberal arts focus and high standards of The Claremont Colleges. The delegation also will meet with friends of the Colleges, donors, local alumni and parents of currents students at the Colleges.

The delegation’s itinerary includes visits to the following:

Singapore March 27-30
Hong Kong March 30-April 1
Shanghai April 2-3  
Beijing  April 3-4

Additional events may be scheduled in the coming weeks. The media is welcome and encouraged to attend all events.

The journey to Asia is a historic one for The Claremont Colleges as it marks the first time all of its presidents have traveled together, either domestically or overseas. The delegation will include:

 Pamela Brooks Gann, President, Claremont McKenna College
 Christopher Walker, Trustee, Claremont McKenna College
 David W. Oxtoby, President, Pomona College
 Laura Skandera Trombley, President, Pitzer College
 Susan Pritzker, Trustee, Pitzer College
 William Brunger, Trustee, Pitzer College
 Maria Klawe, President, Harvey Mudd College
 Robert Klitgaard, President, Claremont Graduate University
 Professor Michael Lamkin, President's Special Representative & Conductor, Claremont Concert Orchestra, Scripps College
 Dr. Gregory Dewey, Senior Vice President For Academic Affairs & Dean of the Faculty, Keck Graduate Institute
 Robert Walton, CEO, Claremont University Consortium
 Reg Gipson, Chairman, Board of Overseers, Claremont University Consortium

The delegation has warm feelings and high expectations about the future of the Colleges’ relations with Asia. In years past, the Colleges have established scholarships for Asian students, and enrollment of students from Asia has increased dramatically over the past decade. 

Founded in 1887, The Claremont Colleges are modeled after the Oxford University system in the United Kingdom, and represent some of the most highly respected institutes of higher learning in the United States.

 Claremont McKenna College is renowned as an elite institution for the study of business, economics, international relations and public affairs.
 Harvey Mudd College is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading centers for science, mathematics and engineering studies. 
 Scripps College is rated fourth nationally by U.S. News & World Report amongst women's colleges, offering a curriculum in humanities with an emphasis on interdisciplinary study.
 Pomona College, the oldest of The Claremont Colleges, offers a traditional liberal arts program, with majors in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
 Pitzer College is a national leader in social and behavioral sciences, particularly psychology, sociology, anthropology and political studies.
 Claremont Graduate University offers master's and doctoral degrees in the humanities and social sciences, government, economics, mathematics, botany, management and education.
 Keck Graduate Institute is the first American graduate school dedicated exclusively to the emerging field of applied life sciences, including molecular biology, chemistry and related disciplines with creative, application-centered engineering.

This historic academic tour is being coordinated wholly by Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc., (PRSI) an award-winning public relations, multimedia and communications management firm based in Long Beach, California. PRSI has extensive experience in logistics management for delegations in the United States and overseas.

“It is unprecedented to have this number of college presidents from the United States travel together to Asia,” stated Dr. Alfred Balitzer, Chairman and co-founder of Pacific Research & Strategies. “Given the Colleges’ growing ties to Asia, the presidents are firmly committed and already looking forward to regular visits in the future.”

Dr. Balitzer added: “This is an extraordinary opportunity to introduce The Claremont Colleges to Asia and to expand its presence in perhaps the fasting-growing academic market in the world.”

About Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc.
Founded in 1985, Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc.’s extensive service offerings include public relations, marketing and advertising, media management, political and legislative affairs, crisis management, conference and event planning, educational consulting, project management and public exhibits. The firm provides customized communications services for its clients around the world. The Company’s mission is to strive to produce the most powerful and effective messages that enable clients to achieve their goals. Its team of communications professionals draws experience from a wide range of backgrounds, allowing the firm to offer its clients complete service and satisfaction.

The Company’s client roster, past and present, has included a diverse mix of foreign governments, international corporations and Fortune 500 companies, tribal governments, political candidates, educational institutions, non-profits, museums and universities, real estate developers, and the world-renowned Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.