Seton Hall University President Leads Delegation to Asia, Deepening Catholic and Strategic Partnerships

Building on decades of mission-driven global engagement, Monsignor Joseph R. Reilly, S.T.L., president of Seton Hall University and Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., associate provost for Partnerships and Global Initiatives, led a senior-level international delegation to Japan and South Korea from March 28 through April 6, 2026, visiting partner universities, meeting with Seton Hall exchange students studying abroad and advancing the University's commitment to Catholic global education.

The visit comes at a pivotal moment for Seton Hall's international programs, which have expanded dramatically under the University's strategic plan, Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose. The trip was preceded by Japan Week 2026 on the South Orange campus, the University's annual celebration of Japanese language, culture and academic exchange, organized by Shigeru Osuka, Ph.D., professor of Asian Studies and Japanese and director of Japan Week.

Tokyo: Rikkyo University and a Reunion with Students Abroad

The delegation's first institutional visit was to Rikkyo University's Ikebukuro Campus in Tokyo, where Monsignor Reilly and Naatus met with University President Professor Renta Nishihara and the leadership team for the Office of International Relations for bilateral discussions on the future of the partnership. Conversations centered on expanding student exchange, research and faculty collaboration and deeper institutional ties.

A highlight of the Rikkyo visit was a personal meeting with three Seton Hall students currently studying there, Wilnica Destine, Nicola Joseph de Flora and Jazz Renee Slaughter, who shared their experiences living and learning in Tokyo. The University is hosting a Rikkyo student this Spring and will be hosting another in the Fall, as part of the ongoing close institutional relationship.

Tokyo: Sophia University — A 44-Year Catholic Partnership

The group also traveled to Sophia University in Chiyoda, Tokyo, for a meeting that carried particular significance: Seton Hall and Sophia have maintained a formal partnership since 1982, making it one of the University's oldest and most mission-aligned international relationships. Sophia University, a Jesuit institution founded in Tokyo, shares Seton Hall's Catholic identity and commitment to educating the whole person.

Monsignor Reilly met with Sophia University's President, Chancellor and senior academic leadership to discuss expanded student exchange, joint research initiatives and new opportunities for faculty collaboration. This summer, a cohort of Seton Hall students will participate in Sophia University's summer program in Tokyo, taking courses in Japanese language and culture, an opportunity made possible in part through the sustained partnership work of Osuka, who has been instrumental in maintaining the Sophia exchange.

"Visiting Sophia University was a deeply meaningful moment," said Monsignor Reilly. "Our partnership with Sophia goes back more than four decades and it reflects exactly what Seton Hall stands for — a commitment to academic excellence rooted in Catholic mission and a belief that forming global citizens is central to our identity as a university. To see our students thriving in Tokyo and to know that this summer even more Seton Hall students will be studying there, is a tremendous source of pride."

The delegation continued to Kyoto for a visit to Temple University Japan's Kyoto campus, observing a model of engagement with a direct overseas presence and global campus.  

South Korea: Sogang University and a 35-Year Partnership

Naatus continued the delegation to Seoul, South Korea, where Easter Sunday took on special meaning: she attended Mass at Sogang University — a Jesuit Catholic institution and one of Seton Hall's longest-standing international partners. Seton Hall and Sogang have maintained an active partnership since 1990, a relationship of more than 35 years grounded in shared Catholic and Jesuit values.

The following day, Naatus met with senior leadership at Sogang to advance discussions on student exchange and research collaboration and also connected with the Gen-G Esports Organization, a study abroad partnership coordinated by Victor Gomez that reflects Seton Hall's growing engagement with emerging fields in South Korea's dynamic higher education landscape.

A Moment of Faith in Nagasaki

Monsignor Reilly extended his time in Japan with a deeply personal visit to Nagasaki, a city of profound Catholic significance, where he met with Archbishop Nakamura of the Archdiocese of Nagasaki and observed Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies. Nagasaki, home to Oura Cathedral and a long history of Catholic martyrdom and resilience, offered a fitting point of reflection for a trip anchored in Catholic mission and global partnership.

Building on Momentum

The Japan and South Korea delegation reflects the momentum of Seton Hall's international programs, which have nearly quadrupled semester-abroad participation over the past two years and are now ranked second in New Jersey for the percentage of students who study abroad. The University currently maintains more than 90 university partnerships worldwide, including 18 Catholic university partnerships on six continents and is enhanced by membership in USAC.

Naatus noted that the visits are about depth as much as breadth. "These are not just campus visits; they are mission-aligned long-term partnerships. Whether it's Sophia, where we've sent students for over four decades or Sogang, where we've had students and faculty engaged since 1990, these relationships are alive, producing real opportunities for students and faculty and enriching our collective campuses’ diverse intercultural perspectives."

These types of international initiatives will continue in the weeks and months ahead as Seton Hall formalizes next steps with existing and future partner institutions, prepares students for summer and fall programs in Japan, launches the 4th annual Rome Connection first-year student experience, led by Douglas Cantelmo and advances the Catholic partnership agenda that is central to the University's strategic plan.

Categories: Nation and World