Photo/Illutration Diana Khor, the first foreign national who will become president of Hosei University in March next year, in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Nov. 21 (Fumio Masutani)

Diana Khor, who was born in Hong Kong before the region was returned to China, will become the first foreign national president of Hosei University next year.

In the presidential election campaign at Hosei University, Khor, 64, called for internationalization of the university and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“I believe some faculty members voted for me because I’m a woman from a foreign country,” she told an Asahi Shimbun reporter. “I think they hope I will bring ‘change’ to this university.”

Her father, who is from Malaysia, runs a clothing company. She attended a missionary middle and high school and earned a master’s degree from the University of Hong Kong.

Although Khor grew up in a privileged family, she experienced inequality and discrimination from the British on a daily basis.

While many of her senior classmates studied abroad in Britain, she felt no desire to study in the colonial master. Instead, she chose to study abroad in the United States.

“I studied business management to help my father, but it was not for me,” she said.

Khor then changed her focus to sociology, with a particular emphasis on gender studies. While comparing different women’s movements around the globe, she became interested in the Japanese feminist movement.

She became a faculty member at Hosei University, which supported her research. She also served as the dean of faculty of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies and executive trustee at the university.

Next year will mark the 145th anniversary of Hosei University. Khor first aims to increase the ratio of women among the faculty members from its current 24 percent.

She also intends to improve the university’s brand value, saying, “We have many excellent students and internationalization is progressing, but this is not known outside the university.”

A colleague described her as “open and approachable, and good at getting others involved.”

When talking about cats rescued from the Great East Japan Earthquake, Khor was all smiles. However, when the topic turned to the current situation in Hong Kong, her face turned grim.

“The information that flows to the citizens significantly influences their thoughts," she said. "I am keenly aware of how important true freedom of the media is.” 

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