McLauchlan's North Macedonian Musings: Fulbright Welcome Reception -- Celebration of Impact -- August 2019 -- University of South Florida

Every August the Mid-Florida Chapter of the Fulbright Association along with USF World host a Fulbright Welcome Reception -- bringing together incoming Fulbrighters from across theI-4 Corridor, Fulbright alums from the region as well as prospective Fulbrighters and other friends of the Fulbright program.

Putting the Republics of Moldova and North Macedonia on the map

The annual event includes networking opportunities during a reception as well as a substantive program. Special thanks to our Fulbright Association President Amela Malkic and past President Darlene DeMarie and to USF World, especially Dr. Kiki Caruson, for organizing.

This year I was delighted to be a panelist contributing to the discussion THE IMPACT OF THE FULBRIGHT EXPERIENCE along with the Dean of the Judy Genshaft Honors College at USF, Dean Charles Adams, a faculty member in the Integrative Biology Department, Dr. Christina Richards, PhD Candidate in Geological Oceanograpy (and fellow Fulbright Association Board Member) Imogene Browne, and an undergraduate Anthropology major Amber Pirson. An inspiring array of perspectives/reflections.

Those of you who follow this blog (as well as my Moldova blog -- http://jainmoldova.blogspot.com/) know the lasting impact of my Fulbright awards on my research, teaching, and service. I am profoundly grateful for the Fulbright Scholar Awards to Moldova and North Macedonia, and I hope I was able to convey the impact of Fulbright during my presentation.

Panel Discussion -- The Impact of the Fulbright Experience

This year, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Executive Director of the Fulbright Association -- Dr. John Bader -- to USF as well.

The Board of our Fulbright Association chapter had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Bader before the event. He had the opportunity to learn more about our Chapter, and we had the opportunity to learn more about the Association's Signature programs -- the Fulbright Forums and Fulbright in the Classroom -- and other initiatives. (See https://fulbright.org/ for more about the Fulbright Association.)

During the event, Dr. Bader spoke passionately about Senator Fulbright's revolutionary vision that all of us, not only official diplomats, but ordinary citizens, can participate in building a more peaceful world. The Fulbright educational exchange program has had a truly extraordinary impact in promoting mutual understanding through public diplomacy.

with Dr. John Bader, Executive Director of the Fulbright Association

I was so happy to connect with incoming Fulbrighter from Finland -- Johanna -- who is a graduate student in the College of Business. I learned of her forthcoming stay at USF when I was in Finland - and I was so pleased we were able to connect at the reception.