Emory’s 17^th President, James T. Laney, who began his presidency in 1977, transformed Emory into an internationally renowned research university. As part of this transformation, Laney addressed the growing need to support international students as well as students of color.

In 1978, Julianne Daffin, the Acting Dean for Women and Student Development, announced Emory’s newfound “effort to happily integrate international students into American life.” Emory then went on to establish various campus departments that laid the foundation for its familiar modern counterparts, which serve Emory’s underrepresented student groups.

Emory administration established the Office of Minority Student Programs (MSP) in 1979. This department, under the supervision of the newly appointed Assistant Dean for Campus Life, oversaw the care of minority, international, and handicapped students. Emory also admitted more international students under Laney’s vision, most of whom were Korean nationals. Laney had served as a missionary in South Korea earlier in life, and he would resign from his presidency to become the US Ambassador to South Korea in 1993.