Making “The Shansi Effect” Possible – A Message from Gavin Tritt and our Partners in Asia

Over the past two weeks, we shared stories about "The Shansi Effect" and its exponential impact. Eli Fisher '16, a former Jogja Fellow, described how his Shansi experience shapes the way he mentors a new generation of Americans who are living, studying, and working in Indonesia. Shansi Senior Director Ted Samuel told of his family's generations-long connection to Shansi and detailed how it played a pivotal role in his family immigrating to the United States and his career development.

I am proud that the "The Shansi Effect" is in full force in 2025. We are continuing to provide opportunities that are transformative for participants, their current and future colleagues and collaborators, and countless others who are in their orbit. This year, we expanded our reach, by launching the Visiting Artists and Practitioners Program, which invited three Adivasi (indigenous) artists and community leaders from the Irula Tribe in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in India to Oberlin for a multi-week residency.

Dr. J. Paul Jayakar,

Principal & Secretary of the American College in Madurai, India — and former Shansi Visiting Scholar ‘06 — next to Gavin Tritt outside of the Shansi Center on the American College’s Campus.

As we continue to navigate a tense global political environment and uncertainties about US commitment to stable and mutually beneficial partnerships abroad, we do our best to remain true to our core mission of building bridges and joining worlds. “The Shansi Effect” is one vital way Oberlin Shansi contributes to long-term mutual understanding.

Of course, "The Shansi Effect" would not be possible without our partners in Asia. Since 1908, the staff, faculty, and leadership at our partner universities and NGOs have been instrumental to the work we do. To round out our Shansi Effect Campaign, we asked key collaborators at our partners to share what Shansi means to them. I hope you enjoy hearing from them.

The compelling stories of “The Shansi Effect” are made possible by your support and generations of giving from the Shansi community. Please help us continue to provide transformative opportunities in the United States and Asia by renewing your support or starting to give. Please visit our website at www.shansi.org/donate to give online (and you can establish a monthly recurring gift that way!) or send a check to Oberlin Shansi, 50 North Professor Street, Oberlin, OH 44074. You can also donate appreciated stock or consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) as part of your IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Learn more about these tax-advantaged opportunities from your tax advisor, and how to use them to support Shansi from our website or by contacting shansi@oberlin.edu.

With warm regards and thanks,

Gavin Tritt
Executive Director