Former Palau President and 2024 Palau Presidential Candidate to Visit Eastern Oregon University

Former Palau President and 2024 Palau Presidential Candidate to Visit Eastern Oregon University

Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is honored to announce that the former President of Palau and current 2024 Presidential Candidate, Tommy Remengesau Jr., will visit campus on Thursday, May 30, 2024. 

Remengesau will meet with students and community members in the Community Room of the Hoke Union Building at 5:30 p.m. This event is hosted by the Navigators Club and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiative at EOU. Remengesau’s visit will include a campus tour, providing opportunities to learn more about the University and students.

EOU has a long-standing relationship with the nation of Palau, dating back to the 1980s when the university began delivering in-person teacher education programs in the Pacific Island nations. That program led to students traveling to La Grande to attend classes on campus. Since then, EOU has graduated hundreds of students from throughout the Pacific Islands, including Palau, and many remain in the region to live and work and raise their families. 

Former President Remengesau began his political career at 28, becoming Palau’s youngest senator in 1984. He served as vice president from 1992 to 2000. Elected president in 2000, he served until 2008 and again from 2013 to 2021. He prioritized environmental conservation, establishing the Palau National Marine Sanctuary and the Micronesia Challenge, earning recognition such as the United Nations Environment Programme’s Champion of the Earth and Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment. Beyond environmental work, he aimed to boost Palau’s tourism industry and reduce dependence on U.S. aid. His leadership in international affairs, especially at the United Nations, focused on addressing climate change impacts on small island nations.

“Hosting the former President Remengesau Jr. allows our students and community members to gain a deeper understanding of global leadership and cultural diversity,” Mika Morton, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging said. “It’s an invaluable opportunity for learning and broadening perspectives.” 

To learn more about DEIB efforts at EOU, visit eou.edu/mc.