All roads apparently lead to Nanchang, China. I am writing today from Nanchang where I just concluded discussions with officials at Jiangxi Normal University regarding collaboration. But the city of Nanchang is important for another reason: it is the current home of a young lady named Caroline, Samford Class of 2013. She is here teaching English to 160 students at a local University. Caroline and I happened to walk into the Pete Hanna Center together on Commencement morning last May and when I asked her what she would be doing after graduation, she replied that she would be working in China. "Maybe our paths will cross," I said. So I was struck two days ago when I received my trip itinerary and--of all places--Nanchang was one of my stops. I was impressed today as she told me how she cherishes her work and her students. Her concluding comment: "Samford prepared me very well."
The world is better because Samford people (like Caroline) are everywhere.