Lisa Oke created this multimedia piece to describe the environmental concern of technology versus nature.

Oakland University student Lisa Oke understands the importance of diversity. She is double majoring in East Asian Studies and Studio Art with a specialization in New Media, and she will spend her senior year at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. There, she hopes to take a wide range of courses from language to traditional arts.

“I feel that it’s really important for American students to try to gain a global perspective and experience diverse cultures,” Oke said. “I chose to study at Nanzan because I heard a lot of good things about their Japanese language program for international students.”

A $1,000 study abroad scholarship from the OU Alumni Association will help pay her way.

“Since high school I have wanted to participate in some sort of exchange program, and when Oakland provided me with this opportunity I was very happy to take it,” Oke said. Her family and friends are supportive of her travels and some even plan to visit her in Japan.

“The scholarship is letting me achieve a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said.

Oke came to Oakland because she liked the small-campus feel of the university. She explained, “Oakland offered courses I was interested in and it seemed like a small and quiet university.” Appreciating the tight-knit campus community here, she believes she has gotten to know her fellow students better than she could have at a larger institution.

Oke also hopes to meet new people and travel throughout Japan during her study abroad program. “Hopefully this experience will open many more opportunities for me,” said Oke, who, in addition to her coursework at Oakland, currently works as a gallery associate at Haig’s of Rochester where she helps sell Asian antiques including Chinese textiles and Japanese, Korean, and southeast Asian items.

She is considering a future career in advertising to continue her work in the arts, and hopes to be able to integrate her studies in East Asia as well. But all in all, her main goal is to find a career she will love and enjoy.