Temple University, Japan Campus Appoints Three Academic Program Division Chairs and Assistant Dean for Student Success to Enhance Academic Excellence and Student Experience

Underscoring its mission to promote academic excellence and student success, the Japan campus of Temple University (TUJ) has appointed three renowned and experienced scholars as undergraduate division chairs and appointed an accomplished administrator as the assistant dean for student success. These newly created positions aim to elevate academic quality and faculty support, as well as enhance the academic support provided by faculty and administrative staff, ensuring that students receive more comprehensive assistance.

This strategic decision arrives at a time of significant growth for the university. The student body has consistently reached record highs in recent years, with the number of faculty members also increasing. To cater to the diverse interests of its students, who represent about 70 nationalities, TUJ has introduced new majors, minors and academic certificates.

To lead these efforts, TUJ has appointed Kazuyo Kubo from Lesley University as the chair for the division of liberal arts, Kevin Jones from Tulane University as the chair for the division of media and fine arts and promoted TUJ’s Hady Kahy as the interim chair of the division of business and technology.

With the new leadership, all 12 majors offered at TUJ are now organized into these divisions. The introduction of these division chairs will enhance the faculty’s ability to provide academic support, helping undergraduate students achieve their academic goals more effectively. This new structure delegates administrative responsibilities, such as faculty hiring and course scheduling, to division chairs. Faculty advisors, previously called faculty coordinators, will focus solely on serving students’ needs, allowing for more focused and dedicated support, including organizing academic events, extracurricular academic activities, and consulting on internships and post-graduate plans.

Additionally, Temple Japan has named a new Assistant Dean for Student Success, Jenika Kaul. The assistant dean will ensure a seamless and supportive experience for students in academic services, from advising to registration and records to academic success. The Academic Advising Center has also been restructured into three teams corresponding to the three division chairs. This reorganization aims to streamline academic support and ensure students receive comprehensive assistance in achieving their academic goals.

“These new appointments bring with them over 80 years of experience in higher education. Their education and experience at top-tier institutions will bring a palpable benefit to the students both inside and outside of the classroom. We are overjoyed to have such a distinguished group of new appointments,” said Yasuko Taoka, associate dean for academic affairs.

Backgrounds of Chairs and Assistant Dean

Kazuyo Kubo

As the chair of the liberal arts division, Kubo will oversee majors including international affairs, political science, Asian studies, Japanese and psychological studies, in addition to overseeing humanities and social science courses. She is a sociologist with a focus on the sociology of family, immigration, race and ethnic studies. Her published research includes topics such as interracial family formation, adoptive families, and public perceptions of immigrants. Her current work investigates visual literacy and immigration issues in Japan. Kubo earned her PhD in sociology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has previously held positions such as professor and associate chair at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Kevin Jones

As the chair of the media and fine arts division, Jones will be responsible for guiding the communication studies and art programs, as well as the music and theater classes. A specialist in expanded media, graphic design and décollage, he instructs a range of studio art and design courses, including two-dimensional (2D) design, time-based media and new media seminars. Over the past six years, his work has evolved from painting to video, physical computing, and 2D digital prints. His consistent theme is exploring the natural world through charts, diagrams, and systems. He has used solar energy for a fictional TV station and sensors for interactive video installations. Jones has exhibited his work internationally, with features in leading publications. He holds an MFA from Yale University in graphic design and has taught at several institutions, including Tulane University in New Orleans.

Hady Kahy

In the business and technology division, Kahy will oversee the majors in international business studies, computer science, economics and tourism, hospitality, and event management. He will also be responsible for mathematics and science courses. He specializes in international economics and international political economy. He offers courses on international economics, managerial economics, and monetary theory. His research interests include examining currency crises linked to political instability and the impact of financial flows on developing economies. Kahy holds a PhD in international political economy from University of Tsukuba in Japan and an MBA in economics from Notre Dame University in Lebanon.

Jenika Kaul

Kaul joined TUJ in November 2021 as a member of the academic advising team and has served as director of academic advising since January 2023. Her professional and educational background in international education includes work experience in higher education administration, international exchange and student relations in Asia and the U.S. Prior to joining TUJ, Kaul worked in Singapore and India, facilitating experiential learning programming and post-graduate advising for students at Yale-NUS College and leading student outreach efforts for an NGO in Bengaluru. Kaul holds an MA in international education from George Washington University and a BA in international studies from Washington University in St. Louis.

For further details see: Undergraduate Academic Leadership