Despite snow storms, the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (TUSEF/Fulbright Thailand) celebrated its 60th Anniversary in Washington D.C. on February 18, 2010 as planned a year ago. Thanks to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy to the United States who hosted the Seminar on “Caring Leaders across Cultures” and a Reception, the event not only signified the bilateral cooperation between the two countries but also gathered nearly hundred of alumni and grantees from different years and grants as well as our network in the U.S., who might not be able to join the celebration in Thailand.
Significantly, high representatives from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Thai Ministry of Education, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Education joined both Seminar and Reception, underlining value of the Fulbright Program as mechanism to bridge the people across cultures and across functions. We had the honor of having
From the U.S. side, we had Ms. Judith A. McHale, Under Secretary for the Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Ms. Alina Romanowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Academic Program, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs from the Department of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Robert LaPointe, Director of the International Education Programs Services from the Department of State., and Mrs. Anita McBride, Chair of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
From the Thai side, we had H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Thai Ambassador to the U.S representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Associate Professor Dr. Varakorn Samkoses representing the Minister of Education and Dr. Sumate Yamnoon representing the Office of Higher Education Commission.
The panel discussion engaged both Thai and U.S. alumni to discuss their Fulbright experience and make recommendations for the Fulbright Program which is now entering its 60. In addition to the discussion, the event was blessed with warm friendship, recalled memories, chitchats, and delicious Thai food!
|
