Soochow University welcomed a delegation from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University on May 4 2026, marking another important milestone in the long-standing partnership between the two institutions.
The delegation was led by Dr. Charla Griffy-Brown, the newly appointed Dean of Thunderbird School of Global Management, who chose Soochow University as the first stop of her visit to Taiwan following the launch of her international engagement tour. She was accompanied by Ms. Helen Wu, Executive Director of Global Partnerships and Operations, and Mr. Chenta Chen, a distinguished alumnus of both Thunderbird and Soochow University as well as Founder of Protrade Applied Materials Corp.
An exchange meeting and signing ceremony was held at Soochow University’s Waishuanghsi Campus. President Chyan-Long Jan and Dean Kai-Yi Chin of the School of Big Data Management represented Soochow University, while Dean Griffy-Brown signed on behalf of Thunderbird. The agreement further strengthens the partnership between the two institutions and officially launches a new dual degree collaboration with Soochow University’s School of Big Data Management.
President Jan described the collaboration as “a powerful alliance” that will expand opportunities for international mobility and interdisciplinary learning while responding to the increasing demand for talent in the age of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. He noted that both institutions will continue working together in education, research, and industry engagement to cultivate globally competitive talent with strong data literacy and international perspectives.
Dean Griffy-Brown remarked that Thunderbird has long been known for cultivating globally minded leaders and managers through its extensive alumni network, international academic presence, and emphasis on cross-cultural leadership and hands-on global experience. She also highlighted Thunderbird’s commitment to integrating digital innovation and emerging technologies into management education in order to prepare future leaders for an increasingly interconnected world.
Soochow University and Thunderbird first established their partnership in 2007 through the Global Business Program (GBP) launched by Soochow University’s School of Business. Over the years, the dual degree collaboration has become a notable example of Taiwan–U.S. academic collaboration, helping nurture business professionals with international perspectives and cross-cultural competence. To date, 37 students have completed dual degrees through the program, while seven students are currently enrolled. One of the program’s distinguished alumni is Ms. Helen Wu, now Executive Director of Global Partnerships and Operations at Thunderbird, whose career path reflects the lasting impact of the partnership.
Mr. Chenta Chen, another key alumnus of both institutions, has also played an important role in strengthening ties between academia and industry. In 2023, through his efforts, the StanShih Foundation, Thunderbird School of Global Management, and Soochow University jointly launched the Taiwan Going Global Initiative to address the growing need for global management and professional talent as Taiwan’s semiconductor and technology industries continue expanding internationally.
The visit not only celebrated nearly two decades of collaboration, but also marked the beginning of a new chapter in the partnership between the two institutions. The newly established dual degree program between Thunderbird and Soochow University’s School of Big Data Management combines Thunderbird’s strengths in global management education with Soochow University’s expertise in big data and artificial intelligence. Through this collaboration, both institutions hope to build an innovative and internationally connected platform for interdisciplinary education and next-generation talent development.