Dean Solomon Cross Visiting Taiwan on a Fulbright Scholar Award

In a world where it seems the globe is getting smaller and smaller, one Pasadena City College administrator is in the process of accelerating that process.

Dr. Solomon Cross, PCC’s dean of Performing and Communication Arts, is traveling to Taiwan this week on a Fulbright Scholar Award from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The prestigious honor is widely seen as a highlight of one’s academic career.

During his visit, Dr. Cross will take part in a two-week group seminar with representatives from universities, private sector organizations, and select government agencies. The program is designed to familiarize U.S. higher education administrators with Taiwan’s higher education system, society and culture. It will consist of briefings, campus visits, appointments with select government officials, cultural activities and meetings with international education professionals.

“I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to take part in this work,” Dr. Cross said. “As educators we are often called to serve as bridges between cultures and bring people together to solve problems. This scholarship will give me the chance to do that in real time.”

Dr. Cross is traveling under the International Education Administrators award program, which is specifically targeted to higher education administrators in the United States. Over 12 days of meetings, tours, and cultural exchange, Dr. Cross and his compatriots will visit no fewer than 12 Taiwanese colleges and universities.

He will also serve as an emissary for PCC’s International Student Programs, which enroll students in Pasadena from locations around the world, including Taiwan and Southeast Asia. “I’m traveling to carry the banner of PCC,” Dr. Cross said. “It’s important to speak about the work we will be doing to collaborate with the international Students Center to build our international engagement.”

Before his appointment in Performing and Communication Arts, Dr. Cross was vice provost for the School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design at Dallas College in Texas. Originally a professor of music and an accomplished vocalist, Dr. Cross has been recognized for his leadership teaching and educational initiatives earning a Chancellor’s Distinguished Leadership Award, and a Teaching Excellence Award from the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development.

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Scholars Program is considered one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world. According to figures compiled by the U.S. State Department, 41 heads of state, 78 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 62 Nobel Prize laureates have participated in Fulbright Scholarships.