During the awards ceremony, Dr. Blair Dowden, President of Huntington University, made the following comments: “In partnership with Russian and American educators, Dr. Bernbaum founded the Russian-American Christian University [later re-named the Russian-American Institute] in Moscow, Russia, in 1995 and currently serves as the university’s president. RACU’s mission, as a private faith-based university, is to equip young Russians for leadership roles in their local communities, in the marketplace, in their churches, and in their nation. Prior to his work in Russia, Dr. Bernbaum was employed by the Department of State from 1972-1976 and then spent nearly two decades with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C.”

“Dr. Bernbaum was the visionary for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities’ international relationships and off-campus study programs. It began with his leadership of the American Studies Program and culminated in the ‘Russian Initiative,’ comprised of the Russian Studies Program, the creation of American and Russian institutional relationships, and ultimately the establishment of the Russian-American Christian University.”

This honorary doctorate is the second one awarded to Dr. Bernbaum. The first was presented to him by the Rector of Nizhni Novgorod State University in October 1995 – the first honorary doctorate ever offered by this university – for his work in international educational exchanges.