FULBRIGHTedge CELEBRATING 38 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM | 1977-2015 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 13 JAN.-FEB 2015 We are back. This issue highlights FA events organized in late 2014 and early 2015. Introducing New FA your aspirations.” Leadership Jennifer’s family has origins in Massachusetts and New York City and come from the fields of banking and non-profit manage- ment. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMASS), and is also a proud member of her UMASS alumni club. She has Jennifer Gennaro Oxley is the worked and travelled abroad to Interim Executive Director of the Europe and South America, and Fulbright Association. She joined has also lived in India for a short the staff as Director of Outreach time. She is married and is the and Development in March 2014 proud Mom of one young son, and was promoted in January of Maximus (Max). Jennifer can be this year. She is keen to apply her reached at [email protected] Pictured above Left to right: John Vogel, Hans Blix, global immersive experiences to Kelly Keiderling and Thomas Pickering the Fulbright mission of support- The Fulbright Association ing international educational and Prize for Peace and first executive director of the The ceremony also honored the cultural exchange. She brings in- Understanding Fulbright Association and widow memory of Washington, DC por- depth experience as an innovator, of former U.S. Senator J. William trait sculptor Gretta Bader who advocator, manager of legacy The Fulbright Prize Ceremony Fulbright (D-Ark.ansas), gave a created a well-known bronze full- and greenfield initiatives and as and Gala was held at the Ronald warm welcome to attendees and length likeness of former Senator J. a development, marketing and Reagan Building and International spoke fondly of her memories of William Fulbright (D-Arkansas). programs director in multiple en- Trade Center in Washington, DC on the senator. vironments (non-profit, corporate, October 17, 2014. The elegant af- The ceremony ended with the chambers of commerce). She fair honored the work of Hans Blix, The ceremony subsequently presentation of the 2014 Fulbright has a life-long commitment to Swedish diplomat and former head focused on the experiences of the Prize for International Under- volunteerism and has helped to of the International Atomic Energy Fulbright community—four alum- standing to Hans Blix by Thomas transform multiple non-profits and Agency. ni, in addition to several current Pickering, former ambassador to primary schools. Fulbright recipients, presented the United Nations. During his ac- During her time with FA, she has Hans Blix, a dedicated leader, on how the Fulbright Program ceptance speech, Blix spoke about been inspired countless times by served during a period of tension changed their lives. These testi- the importance of multilateralism. the sheer will, dedication and gen- in the Middle East, and is credited monials segued to a far-reaching His insight into international af- erosity of our community. Her phi- with reducing the threat of war in tribute to Nelson Mandela, which fair, and his warm sense of humor losophy is reflected in a quote from Iran and managing the potential invoked the global leader’s efforts served as an inspiration for all the Michael Korda, Editor-in-Chief of for nuclear capabilities in Iraq. He to create a more just and fair world. attendees. publisher Simon & Schuster: “One is currently Honorary President way to keep momentum going is of the World Federation of United to have constantly greater goals.” Nations. A recipient of a Fulbright She states, “Every alumnus/ Scholarship at 19-years-old, Blix alumna, chapter leader, and inter- has served the international com- national partner has a vital role to munity for more than six decades. play in the future of the Fulbright Exchange program and the suc- The evening commenced with cess of our global community. We an introduction from John Vogel, will make every effort to connect, president and chairman of the engage and support you in an en- Fulbright Association Board of vironment where you can achieve Directors. Harriet Fulbright, the Hans Blix accepting his award. * Have something newsworthy? Email [email protected] 1 Inaugural Fulbright Alumni Photoraphy Exhibit opens with 37th Annual Conference in Washington DC Intersections: Fulbright on October 13, 2014. The exhib- visible to the casual traveler. Association Alumni it, containing 30 documentary Since these Fulbright alumni Photography Exhibit photographs by 12 photog- were deeply immersed in their Oct. 13 – Nov. 15, 2014 raphers, was displayed at the host countries, their photos Ronald Reagan Building Atrium, portrayed their personal friend- “The Fulbright Program aims coinciding with the annual Fo- ships, joy and hope of human to bring a little more knowl- toWeekDC photography festi- connections across cultures. edge, a little more reason, and val. The exhibit was made pos- The exhibit served as a re- a little more compassion into sible through support from the minder of transformative as- world affairs and thereby in- Fulbright Association National pects of the Fulbright Program crease the chance that nations Capital Area Chapter, Bureau of experience. will learn at last to live in peace Educational and Cultural Affairs, and friendship.” — Senator J. Fulbright Association and the Pictured below are photographs William Fulbright Office for Trade Promotion, from (left to right) Amy Thomp- Ronald Reagan Building. son Avishai, Collete Fu, Lida A photography exhibit hosted Suchy, Erika Larsen, and on the by U.S. Fulbright Program alum- The photos exhibited revealed top right Josh Meltzer. ni opened in Washington, DC elements of local culture in- 2 Speakers presenting at the Fulbright Association’s Annual Conference “Dare to Act” held on October 16-18, 2014 in Washington DC. Photos: Ralph Blessing 3 Fulbright Association’s Annual Conference Dared Us to Act in Inspiring Ways By Cris Ramón plenary session, Dr. Blix joined create more inclusive institutions. global equality through mutual Dare to Act: The 37th Annual Rose E. Gottemoeller, Under- Clarissa Felts, Vice President of understanding. Fulbright Conference and Prize secretary for Arms Control and Collaboration, Diversity and In- International Security at the U.S. clusion at Lowe’s Companies, and Dr. Patrick Alcedo, the 2014 Sel- On October 17 and 18, 250 Department of State, and Dr. Al- Jay Doeden, Director in Deloitte’s ma Jeanne Cohen Awardee and Fulbright alumni and friends lison Macfarlane, Chairwoman of Enterprise Risk Services, also dis- Professor at the York University of the Association gathered in the Nuclear Regulatory Commis- cussed how inclusion shapes their Department of Fine Arts, put these Washington, DC to attend the sion, to engage in a wide-ranging efforts to address consumer needs words into practice. He discussed Fulbright Association’s 37th An- discussion on the increased need and recruit their industries’ best and demonstrated how the folk nual Conference and Prize gala. for nuclear regulation, east-west talent. dance of the Philippine diaspora Using the theme “Dare to Act,” the interdependence, the role of in Canada reflected the nation’s conference gave participants the regulators, and the importance In the afternoon, John Zogby, experiences under different co- opportunity to hear and interact of effective soft power diplomacy Founder of Zogby Polls, took his lonial powers, the challenges of with a roster of international dig- programs such as Fulbright. The audience through an overview of its post-colonial experience, and nitaries, political and intellectual panel’s audience extended be- the current start of critical races the experience of its immigrants, leaders, and innovative Fulbright yond the individuals in the room: in the 2014 congressional and whose remittances serve as one alumni whose innovative and vital C-SPAN recorded and broadcasted gubernatorial elections. He noted of its largest sources of income. work embodied the spirit of this the event through its channels, the political implications of these Through Dr. Alcedo’s analysis and year’s theme. marking an important milestone races and tied the outcomes to performance, audiences had an in the Annual Conference’s history. issues related to the funding of opportunity to understand how Day 1: Dare to Lead, Impact, Di- the Fulbright Program. After this mutual understanding – and the versify, Create, and Advocate After the plenary session, partic- analysis, he discussed his research programs that promote these ex- ipants joined the Dare to Impact on the political and social views periences – can serve as a liberat- The conference started with a panel, which featured Fulbrighters of the Millennial generation. In ing experience for all individuals. reception at the Swedish Embassy who have launched social innova- particular, he noted that Millenni- on October 16. In addition to tion projects such as the Millen- als rejected old political divisions Day 2: Dare to Engage, Innovate, hearing remarks from Ambassa- nial Trains Project, Sound Impact, and embraced greater openness Transform, Empower, and Educate dor Björn Lyrvall, from Sweden to and Restoring Vision to promote to travel and learning foreign the US, alumni and their guests social change in areas as diverse languages – a factor that bodes The second day of conference had their first opportunity to as India, Paraguay, and Costa Rica. well for the future of the Fulbright gave participants more opportu-