Chancellor James Oblinger’s recent ascendance to the board of directors for the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges has big implications for the future of our institution here at NCSU. Having a representative from this University in a position to help set the agenda for this prestigious organization means we will have a direct source to issues affecting higher education and an opportunity to bring some of our grievances into the national spotlight.

The NASULGC is based out of Washington D.C. and is the nation’s oldest higher education organization. It is comprised of 216 member institutions. The group works to advocate education issues on Capitol Hill and also is interested in improving member accountability, global competitiveness and internationalization.

Given this group’s concentration on globalization, Oblinger’s work to establish ties in Asia undoubtedly played a factor in his nomination to the board of directors. Establishing international networks is a challenge for many land-grant institutions, so hopefully Oblinger will be able to learn and develop new strategies in this field that he can bring back home.

With the amount of time and resources the chancellor has spent establishing overseas connections, it is also essential that he uses this new position as an opportunity to establish new connections with academic institutions in this nation. Public universities in this country will face many of the same issues that ours is struggling to solve and the NASULGC is a great platform on which to work out a solution.

Oblinger will likely face new responsibilities with his appointed position, but he must always bear in mind that his first obligations are to the students of this university. While many individuals across the nation can benefit from the chancellor’s experiences, it is critical that he always places NCSU first on his list of priorities.

As we look to the future of this University, it is important that we continue to establish connections in academic and political domains. Oblinger’s involvement with the NASULGC will benefit our institution in both areas and he should be congratulated for these efforts. It is refreshing to see that NCSU remains highly regarded on both the national and international levels.