June 2006

Clockwise from top left: Rengin Akillioglu, Turkey; Esteban Bullrich of Argentina, his spouse Maria Eugenia Sequeiros, and Ji Young Choi of Korea with USA Fellow Rich Read ’97 in Portland; the MNP group at the Grand Canyon; Arif Jabbar Khan of Pakistan, Mohammed Alhokal of Saudi Arabia, and spouse Muriithi Wanjau of Kenya; Valere Moutarlier, European Union.

Multi Nation Program Concludes

Twenty-three Multi Nation Fellows and six USA Fellows concluded their programs in May and began their journeys as lifelong Eisenhower Fellows.

Over the last eight weeks, the MNP Fellows traveled to the economic, governmental, and academic centers in the U.S., spending time in New York, Boston, Washington, and San Francisco. Individual Fellows also sought out unique experiences and headed for the open roads of west Texas, artist communities in New Mexico, and the farm of USA Fellow Bart Ruth ’06 in Nebraska. A handful visited rural Mississippi and New Orleans to see firsthand the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and the relief efforts spearheaded in response. The Fellows stayed in constant contact with each other via email during their travels, and often reconnected when they landed in the same city, as in Seattle where they made group visits to Microsoft and Boeing.

The Fellows reunited for closing seminar to synthesize their learnings at the Villanova Conference Center outside of Philadelphia. They were joined there by six USA Fellows who recently completed their programs in the European Union, Germany, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, and Sweden. Together, the MNP and USA Fellows shared personal experiences of their journeys, reflected on their program experiences, and strategized about how to lead positive changes in their countries and maintain the fellowship momentum upon returning home.

The week concluded on May 18 with a stimulating seminar with Chairman Henry Kissinger in the afternoon and an elegant gala dinner in the evening.

For a taste of the Fellows’ journeys, visit a Day in the Life.

Program summaries for individual Fellows are available here.

Kissinger awarded Eisenhower Medal

Eisenhower Fellowships celebrated outgoing chairman Dr. Henry Kissinger at its May 18, 2006, annual day meeting and presented him with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service. Kissinger is the nineteenth person to receive the medal, which is awarded to public figures who have achieved widely recognized advances toward President Eisenhower’s vision of peace and productivity. He has served as chairman of the Board since 2000.

David Eisenhower, grandson of President Eisenhower, and his daughter Melanie presented Kissinger with the medal. Delivering the official citation, Eisenhower said: “As the preeminent statesman of our time, you have exemplified Eisenhower Fellowships’ ideal of international understanding through dialogue.”

The evening also included remarks from John Whitehead, last year’s recipient of the medal, and former President George H.W. Bush, who appeared via video.

Kissinger began his career in public service as national security advisor in 1969. He was appointed secretary of state in 1973 and served for four years. Among honors bestowed on him have been the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Kissinger has continued to offer his insight and counsel as the author of many books and articles on foreign policy. Among his greatest contributions to the Eisenhower Fellowship experience were his chairman’s seminars, annual sessions which gave Fellows the rare opportunity to engage with one of the world’s most accomplished diplomats on pressing foreign policy questions.

View Bush’s remarks (high speed, low speed).

View Kissinger’s inspiring words for Eisenhower Fellows (high speed, low speed).

Requires RealPlayer. (Free download available here.)

Vice president at Chicago Climate Exchange

Paula DiPerna ‘98, USA, is now executive vice president of corporate recruitment and public policy at the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). CCX is North America’s only, and the world’s first, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission registry, reduction and trading system for all six greenhouse gases (GHGs). CCX is a self-regulatory, rules based exchange designed and governed by CCX Members. Members make a voluntary but legally binding commitment to reduce GHG emissions.

Previously DiPerna was president of the Joyce Foundation in Chicago and vice president at the Cousteau Society.

President of Confucius Institute

Akimasa Mitsuta ’66, Japan, was recently appointed president of the Confucius Institute at Obirin University. Only the second such institute in Japan, the Confucius Institute at Obirin was jointly established in 2005 by the university and China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.

Mitsuta was also recently awarded a decoration by the Japanese government for his contribution to his nation and society. He and his wife, along with other recipients, were an given audience with Emperor Akihito.

New Schools Project wins grant

The North Carolina New Schools Project (NCNSP), headed by Tony Habit ’00, USA, has received $9 million in grant funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to continue its work building small high schools with career-specific curricula to prepare students for college and occupations.

The NCNSP is a public-private partnership founded in 2003 with another grant from the Gates Foundation. Since the original gift, North Carolina has opened 11 small campuses at existing high schools as a part of the project. An additional 21 campuses are scheduled to open in the fall, and 20 others will start up next year.

Film premieres at UN

Simone Duarte ‘96, Brazil, premiered her short film Wake Up, about women and children fighting AIDS in Mozambique, at the United Nations Special General Assembly on AIDS. Approximately 100 people attended the two screenings of the documentary, which is narrated by American singer Roberta Flack.

After the screening, Duarte participated in a panel with UN officials and Mozambicans fighting AIDS.

Head of national congress on hospital quality

Eduardo D' Aguiar ’96, Brazil, served as president of the 10th Brazilian Hospital Quality Congress in June. The congress was part of a larger healthcare conference, the National Hospital Administration Congress, which is the largest such event in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. Attendees of the Hospital Quality Congress discussed best practices in hospital services and held a session on medical ethics. The goal of the event is to encourage Brazilian hospitals to take part in voluntary quality accreditation programs in order to improve patient services nationwide.

Director of Center for American Studies

Dingli Shen ‘97, China, was appointed director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University. He previously served as deputy director and directs China's first non-government-based program on arms control and regional security at the Center.  A physicist by training, Shen is a professor of international relations at the university and the executive vice dean of the university’s Institute of International Studies.

Survey company founded

Dr. John Sumansky ’94, USA, has founded The Survey and Forecast Company LLC, where he is president and CEO. The company provides off-the-shelf surveys for measuring quality of life in communities, business climate, and NGO employee satisfaction and also offers data analysis and reporting. 

Chief editor of Surabaya Post

Sirikit Syah ’04, Indonesia, is now chief editor at the Surabaya Post. She began her career there as a reporter in 1984 before going on to found and direct LKM, Indonesia’s first and only media watchdog organization. She reports that her return to journalism is “a joyful challenge.”

Special assistant to the minister of health

José Noronha ’93, Brazil, was appointed special assistant to the minister of health for the State of Rio de Janeiro. He is also a researcher at the Center of Scientific and Technological Information of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.

Fellow performs at festival

Tantowi Yahya ’05, Indonesia, performed in Nashville in June at the Global Artists Party, which is part of the Country Music Association Festival held there. The festival concluded with the CMA Awards. While Yahya, who is a country music artist in Indonesia, has visited Nashville several times, this was his first time performing there.

Executive director of student affairs

Rose Laka-Mathebula ’05, South Africa, has been appointed executive director of student affairs at Tshwane University of Technology. Laka-Mathebula was previously campus director at the university.