March 16, 2005—Oberlin College President Nancy Dye will receive an honorary doctorate of letters from Obirin University at the school's 2005 commencement ceremony on March 16. President Dye, the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Obirin, will address the graduating students during the commencement ceremony in Tokyo.

President Dye is being recognized for her distinguished contributions to the promotion of liberal arts education and for her leadership in promoting diversity in education and international exchange. A historian, she is the 13th and first woman president of Oberlin College, the first college in the nation to admit women. President Dye came to Oberlin in 1994 after serving as a professor of history, dean of faculty and acting president of Vassar College, where she received her undergraduate degree.

Obirin University is a private co-educational institution located in the Tokyo suburb of Machida. The name Obirin ("beautiful cherry orchard" in Japanese) is derived from the cherry trees that bloom on campus in early spring. However, it also indicates Obirin's historical link with Oberlin College, the alma mater of Obirin's founder and first president, Yasuzo Shimizu.

One of the leading liberal arts colleges in the United States, Oberlin College has designed a full-tuition scholarship to foster Japanese-American understanding in the legacy of Edwin Reischauer, American Ambassador to Japan and 1931 graduate of Oberlin College. The award is bestowed annually on a Japanese student, who demonstrates superior academic achievement, potential to excel in a liberal arts curriculum, and commitment to furthering the Ambassador's vision of strong ties between Japan and the United States.

An independent undergraduate liberal arts college, Oberlin's 2800 students are enrolled in two divisions, the College of Arts and Science and the Conservatory of Music. More Oberlin graduates earn Ph.D's than do graduates of any other predominantly undergraduate institution. Oberlin's Allen Art Museum is ranked first among college art museums, and its library is unequaled among college libraries for depth and range of resources. Located 35 miles southwest of Cleveland, Ohio, Oberlin College admitted women since its beginning in 1833 and is an historical leader in the education of African Americans.

For more information about Oberlin College, please visit the Oberlin College Website: www.oberlin.edu