[Video provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Mary Merva, vice provost of John Cabot University in Italy, returned to Changchun during celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Jilin University, where she taught economics for a year in 1985.

Nearly four decades later, Merva revisited the city and reflected on the dramatic changes she had witnessed. While Changchun has undergone significant transformation, she said the warmth of its people has left a lasting impression.

During her visit, Merva also shared her thoughts on exchanges between students and scholars. She encouraged young people to embrace cross-cultural experiences, saying face-to-face interactions can build genuine, lasting friendships beyond social media.

Merva joined John Cabot University in 1994 and became vice provost in 2010. She earned bachelor's degrees in geography and economics from California State University, Long Beach, before receiving a master's degree and a PhD in economics from Rutgers University. During her studies at Rutgers, she was invited to Jilin University in 1985 to teach economics.

After earning her doctorate, Merva taught economics at the University of Utah before moving to Rome with her family in 1993. Her research focuses on applied economics, and she has published widely while teaching economics, finance, and quantitative methods.

Her return to Changchun offered an opportunity to revisit a formative chapter in her academic career and reflect on the enduring value of international educational exchange.