Jan 12, 2021PRESS RELEASE
Professor Renta Nishihara elected next Rikkyo University president
Keyword:INFORMATION
OBJECTIVE.
College of Arts Professor Renta Nishihara has been elected as the next president of Rikkyo University following incumbent President Yangchoon Kwak’s announcement that he will be stepping down.
Nishihara, 58, was confirmed as the 22nd Rikkyo University president at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Rikkyo Educational Corporation on Dec. 18 after polls opened from Dec. 14 to 16. His term of office is four years; from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2025.
Profile: Renta Nishihara
Born in Kyoto Prefecture on August 26, 1962
Professor, Department of Christian Studies, College of Arts, Rikkyo University
Doctor of theology
Specialized in Anglicanism, Ecumenism, Systematic theology, Contemporary theology
Field of research: The dynamism of Anglican theology in Christian history since the 16th century English Reformation
Publications include “Seikokai ga taisetsu ni shitekita mono” (Things Made Important by the Anglican Church) published by Kyobunkwan Inc.,
Serves as 28th chairperson, Association of Christian Schools in Japan and sits on the board for the Colleges and Universities of Anglican Communion
<Biography>
March 1987 Graduates from the Department of Metal Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
April 1991 Enters Central Theological College
April 1993 Enters Master’s Program in Systematic Theology at Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
March 1994 Graduates from Central Theological College (Bachelor of Divinity)
March 1995 Completes Master’s Program in Systematic Theology at Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
April 1998 to March 2000 Full-time lecturer at College of Arts, Department of Christian Studies, Rikkyo University
April 2000 to March 2007 Assistant Professor at College of Arts, Department of Christian Studies, Rikkyo University
April 2007– present Professor at Department of Christian Studies, College of Arts,
Rikkyo University
April 2007– present Professor at Doctoral Program in Christian Studies at Graduate School, Rikkyo University
April 2007– present Professor at Master’s Program in Christian Studies at Graduate School, Rikkyo University
February 2008 – present Vice Chancellor of Rikkyo Educational Corporation
August 2008 – present Board member of the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion
April 2010 to March 2015 Rikkyo University Vice President
February 2013 Completes Doctor’s program in Theology at Kwansei Gakuin University
April 2015 to March 2017 Dean at the College of Arts and Dean at the Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
June 2018 – Present Chairperson of the Association of Christian Schools in Japan
April 2019 to March 2021 Dean at the College of Arts and Dean at the Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
Professor, Department of Christian Studies, College of Arts, Rikkyo University
Doctor of theology
Specialized in Anglicanism, Ecumenism, Systematic theology, Contemporary theology
Field of research: The dynamism of Anglican theology in Christian history since the 16th century English Reformation
Publications include “Seikokai ga taisetsu ni shitekita mono” (Things Made Important by the Anglican Church) published by Kyobunkwan Inc.,
Serves as 28th chairperson, Association of Christian Schools in Japan and sits on the board for the Colleges and Universities of Anglican Communion
<Biography>
March 1987 Graduates from the Department of Metal Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
April 1991 Enters Central Theological College
April 1993 Enters Master’s Program in Systematic Theology at Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
March 1994 Graduates from Central Theological College (Bachelor of Divinity)
March 1995 Completes Master’s Program in Systematic Theology at Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
April 1998 to March 2000 Full-time lecturer at College of Arts, Department of Christian Studies, Rikkyo University
April 2000 to March 2007 Assistant Professor at College of Arts, Department of Christian Studies, Rikkyo University
April 2007– present Professor at Department of Christian Studies, College of Arts,
Rikkyo University
April 2007– present Professor at Doctoral Program in Christian Studies at Graduate School, Rikkyo University
April 2007– present Professor at Master’s Program in Christian Studies at Graduate School, Rikkyo University
February 2008 – present Vice Chancellor of Rikkyo Educational Corporation
August 2008 – present Board member of the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion
April 2010 to March 2015 Rikkyo University Vice President
February 2013 Completes Doctor’s program in Theology at Kwansei Gakuin University
April 2015 to March 2017 Dean at the College of Arts and Dean at the Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
June 2018 – Present Chairperson of the Association of Christian Schools in Japan
April 2019 to March 2021 Dean at the College of Arts and Dean at the Graduate School of Arts, Rikkyo University
COMMENT
I have been chosen as the next president of Rikkyo University. In 2024, Rikkyo will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its foundation. In the meantime, I will sincerely devote myself to uniting the university, helping it to make further progress and to influence the world and our future while remaining faithful to “The Founding Spirit of Rikkyo University.