You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

Ambassadors to visit St. Olaf to promote cultural exchange

By David Gonnerman '90
March 7, 2007

The U.S. Ambassador to Norway, Ben Whitney, and the Norwegian Ambassador to the United States, Knut Vollebaek, are teaming up to boost student exchanges between Norway and the United States -- the first time Ambassadors from the United States and Norway will tour in the United States together. The duo will visit St. Olaf College, one of a handful of key U.S. educational institutions included on their tour, March 7.

During the visit the two ambassadors will meet with the media, with American and Norwegian students at St. Olaf, and with college faculty and administrators. "Student exchanges remain important to the special Norwegian-American relationship," says Christian Hansson on the Norwegian Embassy staff. "The cultural understanding and personal ties gained by studying abroad are central to maintaining this relationship. But with numbers declining in the past decade, the Ambassadors believe that it is important to take corrective action."

Whitney and Vollebaek will promote measures to stimulate educational exchanges between Norway and the United States during their March tour. The visits launch the American phase of a recent initiative by the U.S. Embassy in Oslo called Study in Norway. The Government of Norway also has announced a special focus on educational exchanges with the United States, continuing its emphasis on strong research, educational and personal ties between the two countries.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.