EAST LANSING, MI., Sept. 29, 2026 – On a crisp early-autumn morning at Michigan State University, Dion Ginanto walked into Erickson Hall for the first time in eight years. The building, home to the College of Education, felt familiar; its quiet hallways, its glass-walled offices, its understated academic hum. But this visit carried a different weight.
Dion Ginanto, who now serves as the director of international office (PLKI-LPPM) at UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, had returned to MSU not as a student, but as a visiting scholar from the Ministry of Religious Affairs Indonesia (Kemenag RI) tasked with strengthening institutional ties and documenting the trajectory of Indonesian alumni in global education.
His first stop: the Office of International Studies in Education (OISE), the unit that manages MSU’s international partnerships and academic exchanges. Waiting for him on the second floor were several familiar faces: Julie Sinclair, Associate Director of OISE; Samantha Caughlan; Christine Caster; and Jessica Garrels.
Julie greeted him with a warmth that suggested the continuity of long academic friendships.
“Welcome back,” she said. “We’re so glad you finally made it here after eight years.”
A Meeting That Blends Reconnection and Diplomacy
The gathering was informal, more conversational than ceremonial. They spoke about the evolution of MSU’s international programs, the growing presence of Indonesian scholars on campus, and the shifting landscape of global education partnerships.
The second half of the visit turned more reflective. Ginanto sat down with Jessica Garrels for a recorded conversation that will be featured in MSU’s alumni Linkedin bulletin; a profile highlighting his work in educational leadership and international cooperation. Garrels asked about his current role, the challenges of cross-border collaboration, and the ways Indonesian universities are navigating global academic networks.
Ginanto explained that his visit was not only personal but also institutional.
“I bring greetings from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia,” he said. “They had planned to visit MSU with me, but because their visas have not yet been issued, they were unable to travel.”
A Visit Delayed, but Not Diminished
Two officials from the Ministry were originally scheduled to conduct monitoring and evaluation of the visiting scholar program. OISE had already extended formal invitations. But visa delays — a familiar bureaucratic hurdle in international academic exchanges — forced the visit to be postponed.
Even so, OISE staff expressed readiness to host the delegation once the administrative issues are resolved. For now, Ginanto serves as the ministry’s sole representative on the ground.
Looking Ahead
The conversation eventually turned to the future: how Indonesian Islamic universities might deepen collaboration with MSU, how alumni networks could be mobilized more strategically, and how visiting scholar programs might serve as bridges between institutions separated by geography but connected by shared academic ambitions.
For Ginanto, the day marked both a homecoming and a beginning — the first step in a three‑week program that aims to expand the reach of UIN STS Jambi and strengthen Indonesia’s academic presence at one of America’s leading public universities.