On March 15, 2004, U.S. Ambassador Darryl N. Johnson, President of Chiang Mai University Assistant Professor Nipon Tuwanon, and Governor of Chiang Mai Suwat Tantipat cut a ribbon to officially open the American Corner at Chiang Mai University. During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Johnson confirmed, "The vibrant and growing city of Chiang Mai is an ideal place for an American Corner initiative. Today, CMU is a center of educational exchange with the U.S. hosting undergraduate and graduate exchange students from all across the U.S. and sending its graduates to study at American universities.