Interim Director of International Programs Appointed

PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University Professor of Education Robert Harder
has been appointed interim director of International Programs. Harder succeeds director James
Henson, who will retire June 30.
Harder has been with the WSU College of Education since 1968 and has worked with IP
since 1990. He is coordinator of the Asia/Pacific Education, Research and Economic Network.
Harder was instrumental in developing the WSU Asia/Pacific Economic Cooperation Study
Center and is director of the International Cougar Program that serves some 10,000 overseas
alumni.
During his career, Harder has lived in Taiwan and the Philippines and has served as an
educational consultant in 11 Asian countries.
The new interim director said his goals are to facilitate the internationalization process for
WSU departments and faculty. “As a land-grant university, WSU has had a traditional mission
of instruction, research and service in the state. Because of the increasing dependence of the
state on working in the global economy, the WSU mission has become more international in
nature, with WSU faculty collaborating with their counterparts throughout the world,” said
Harder.
Henson, a professor of veterinary pathology, is retiring after eight years as IP director. He
also has served as director of International Agriculture and Home Economics, and director of
International Program Development.
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