Focus May 2007 Edition The AMIDEAST Newsletter of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs AMIDEAST Celebrates Fifty Years in Egypt AMIDEAST was founded in 1951 sion to help administer the U.S. and began operations in the Middle Department of State-funded Ful- East soon thereafter. It opened its bright Foreign Student Program in doors in Cairo in 1956 at a time of Egypt. Over the past thirty-five growing tensions in Egypt as well as years, more than seventy talented the region—tensions that would Egyptians have benefited from this return repeatedly over the ensuing prestigious program. decades. Throughout them all, AMIDEAST/Egypt kept its doors H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak delivers the To mark its 50th anniversary in open, providing valued services and keynote address. Egypt, AMIDEAST held a gala an ongoing channel for people-to- dinner on December 5, 2006 and a people communication. Its informa- and abroad. AMIDEAST also works symposium the following day, tion programs sought to improve with numerous program sponsors to entitled, “Egyptian Education and American understanding of the Arab recruit and prepare students for U.S. Training for the Global Economy.” world, and it encouraged contacts study, manage their scholarship Nearly 500 Egyptian and American between American and Egyptian programs in the United States, and officials, educators, business leaders, leaders in government, business, and further cultural exchange between and AMIDEAST alumni attended the education. Since its earliest days, it Egyptians and Americans. Since celebration. During these 50th has steadily worked to enable 1972, AMIDEAST has worked with anniversary events, guests heard thousands of Egyptians to gain access the bi-national Fulbright Commis- from special guests H.E. Mrs. to higher education in the United Suzanne Mubarak, U.S. Assistant States. Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Dina Habib Today, AMIDEAST/Egypt operates Powell, and Egypt’s Minister of offices in Cairo and Alexandria. Last Higher Education Dr. Hany Helal. year, over 30,000 students enrolled in English language and professional H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the training, and nearly 100,000 gala’s keynote speaker, expressed her individuals utilized AMIDEAST’s AMIDEAST President Ambassador country’s appreciation of “fifty years advising and testing services, which Theodore Kattouf addresses reporters. of fruitful collaboration” between help students gain greater access to Former AMIDEAST President Ambassa- AMIDEAST and Egypt. She noted dor William Rugh, left, looks on. educational opportunities in Egypt Continued on page 2... ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Alumni Updates Page 5 Fulbright Alumni Conferences in Morocco Page 2 Fulbright Alumnus honors Virginia Tech Page 10 The National Security Language Initiative Page 4 AMIDEAST Update Page 11 Fulbright Focus Page 2 that “AMIDEAST has built bridges country would need a “revolution” to between Egypt and the United transform it from a resource-based States, even during times when rela- economy to a knowledge-based econ- tions were tenuous.” Because of omy. AMIDEAST, the first lady went on to say, “many Egyptian students have U.S. Assistant Secretary of State benefited from the scholarships that for Educational and Cultural Affairs, have enabled them to study in the Dina Habib Powell, paid tribute to United States, realizing their dreams. AMIDEAST. In her keynote address, They have now returned home to take Dina Habib Powell, Assistant Secretary of she praised AMIDEAST as a on their role in the development of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, “symbol of excellence in international our society.” interviewing at the Anniversary Gala. education” and “a bridge of under- Minister Helal opened the session standing” between the American and During the symposium the following with an address that described his Egyptian people. The Egyptian-born day, Egyptian and American leaders in government’s efforts to introduce Powell, who oversees U.S. Depart- the fields of business and education broad educational reforms, particu- ment of State-sponsored international focused on factors that will determine larly in science education and educational and cultural exchange Egypt’s economic future, including soft-skills training. He said that the programs, underscored the importance education, training in the skills “It is clear that AMIDEAST will of these programs to strengthening needed in the marketplace, interna- continue to build bonds between our relations between the U.S. and Egypt. tional educational exchange, and countries and train future leaders in “It is clear that AMIDEAST will prospects for creating new jobs in business and government” continue to build bonds between our Egypt’s growing economy. - Dina Habib Powell, U.S. Assistant countries and train future leaders in Secretary of State business and government,” she added. Morocco Hosts Fulbright Alumni Conferences The Fulbright Association and the Moroccan Fulbright Alumni Association joined forces, and together with the Moroccan Ameri- can Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange and the U.S. Department of State, organized five days of programming for Fulbright alumni from around the world in Marrakesh, Morocco from November 3—7, 2006. The 29th Annual Conference of the Fulbright Association kicked off the alumni events from November 3—5, 2007, and the Moroccan Fulbright Alumni Conference followed from November 6—7, 2007. Both conferences were open to Fulbright alumni from around the world. Kate DeBoer and Elisa O’Keefe from AMIDEAST/Washington, DC and Fouzia El Azhari from AMIDEAST/Rabat attended. 29th Annual Conference of the shops offered during the conference tional Understanding, spoke during Fulbright Association: Fulbright ranging from “Women and Civil Soci- the Annual Banquet on November 4, Alumni: Expressions in Civil Society ety” to “Expressions of Cultures on 2006. Mr. Ahtisaari, a career diplo- Curricula.” Workshop panelists were mat, has served as peacemaker in The 29th Annual Conference of the largely comprised of Fulbright alumni some of the world’s most troubled Fulbright Association opened with a and current professors and academics. areas. He spoke of his unique role as reception, hosted by the Moroccan After each session, participants Special Envoy of the Secretary- American Commission for Educa- networked with their Fulbright peers General of the United Nations for the tional and Cultural Exchange and made connections with future status process of Kosovo. The (MACECE). Evelyn A. Early, Public colleagues from around the world. next day, during the plenary lunch- Affairs Counselor from the U.S. eon, Alex Counts, Fulbright alumnus Embassy in Rabat, delivered special Marrti Ahtisaari, former president of and president and CEO of Grameen welcome remarks. Over the next two Finland and recipient of the 2000 J. Foundation USA (GFUSA), spoke of days, there were a variety of work- William Fulbright Prize for Interna- his time as a Fulbrighter and his May 2007 Edition Page 3 training under Grameen Bank founder tures, and still life paintings, created fundraising efforts and was able to and managing director, Dr. Muham- by Fulbright alumni from around the provide a delicious lunch near the mad Yunus, a Fulbright fellow to the world. The opening reception was Palais de Congres and a tour of Mar- United States in 1965-1966 and the attended by the U.S. Ambassador to rakesh. The conference concluded 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Mr. the Kingdom of Morocco, Thomas with a 1001 Nights Moroccan folklore Counts has been recognized for lead- Riley. dinner. ing an organization that greatly contributes to reducing poverty, galva- The workshop focused on the repre- Congratulations to the Fulbright Asso- nizes resources for its mission, and sentation of Morocco in Western film, ciation and the Moroccan Fulbright plans for sustainability. literature, and art. Workshop panelists Alumni Association for hosting such were comprised of Moroccan and an enriching experience! The Fulbright Association, with the American professors and academics support of the U.S. Department of who spoke about the myth and GRANT OPPORTUNITY State, sponsored a global Fulbright mystique associated with Morocco in Alumni Technical Assistance Seminar Western art, such as in works by Apply to win a Fulbright Alumni for representatives of national Ful- Matisse, Shakespeare, and Joyce. Development Grant! bright alumni associations and alumni Ahmed Radi, a presenter and alumnus AMIDEAST awards bi-annual grants up groups forming associations. The of the Moroccan Joint Supervision to $2,500 for Fulbright alumni to attend seminar offered capacity-building for program, discussed Marjorelle’s repre- a professional conference or seminar, conduct a collaborative research project, the leaders of alumni associations sentation of Morocco as rich and complete a short-term training pro- around the world. Panelists discussed artistic on the one hand, but influ- gram, or participate in a professional ways to promote the Fulbright enced by French colonialism and visit with colleagues in their field. program, best practices in alumni Eligibility Requirements: association building, public relations, fundraising and leadership develop- • Applicants must be alumni of the ment. Participants asked questions Fulbright Foreign Student Program administered by AMIDEAST. specifically about the development of their country’s