Fulbright Alumni Breakfast
Sept. 21, 2006
Robert A. Kennedy, President, University of Maine
• Good morning and welcome.
It is a pleasure to be here this morning, and I am pleased to be with
such a distinguished group.
•
UMaine has had nearly 40 faculty members or staff members awarded
Fulbright grants over the past 25 years. That is an impressive number.
Equally impressive is the high quality of the scholarship associated
with those grants, and the lofty stature of those who have received the
awards.
•
It is a wonderful program, which accomplishes Sen. Fulbright's goal, 60
years ago, of increasing the mutual understanding among people from the
U.S. and other countries.
•
The program's staying power is truly impressive. In the post-World War
II world, it was critically important to promote these exchanges. In
today's world, it is perhaps even more important, as communications
technology and various complexities have made the world seem smaller.
•
Universities should lead the way in fostering this type of activity. We
are fortunate to be at the kind of place where ideas can be exchanged
freely, and where diversity is embraced.
•
Those of you who have left us for a Fulbright experience have returned
to enrich our community, and for that we are grateful. And our students
have benefited over many years from those broadened perspectives brought
back by our faculty members.
•
It is also a wonderful thing when we at UMaine host a Fulbright
participant from another country. Last year, earth scientist Peter
Porcal was with us, this year we are pleased to have graduate student
Christine Anjerer, who is from Germany, studying social work here at
UMaine.
•
In preparing for today, I've learned a bit about J. William Fulbright,
and his vision was truly remarkable. He extended his expertise in
foreign policy to the development of this scholarship program, which now
operates in more than 150 countries. To date, it has had 265,000
participants. His legacy will endure as this program carries on, and the
"ripple effects" associated with these exchanges continue.
•
The program has been instrumental in helping to create the foundation of
the modern university, where activities that promote cultural
understanding are of great importance.
•
We are doing a lot at UMaine to respond to critical needs – and student
interest – in academic and outreach activities related to
international programming.
•
Karen Boucias and others in our Office of International Programs do a
wonderful job in working with our many international students; as do
those who work in our Graduate School. Continuing to ensure that those
students have a good experience is very important to us.
•
We have also noticed a significant increase in interest in students who
wish to study international affairs. Our programs in this area are
strong, and students are noticing. That is particularly good news for
all of us.
•
UMaine is also working with other statewide organizations, like Maine
International Trade Center, which hosted a major event right here on
campus last summer. I think that is more good news, as we look to find
ways to connect and associate with others around Maine who have related
international expertise.
•
We are also well into the planning stages of a School of Policy and
International Affairs here at UMaine. I hope to bring this to the Board
of Trustees for approval within a few months. I believe that this
school, which will give us some structure around the vast number of
activities related to policy and international affairs, will really help
us move forward in serving our students, our state and our world. This
is a most exciting prospect, and it will have a positive impact on many
of our current programs and units, as it will help us develop the kind
of critical mass and shared energy that help fuel progress.
•
I hope you share my enthusiasm for the direction UMaine is heading in
this regard, and that you accept my sincere thanks for your good work,
and your efforts that have helped us grow to this point. The future for
programming related to international studies and international affairs
at UMaine is bright, and the continued resource represented by those who
are part of this great program will be a key to helping us achieve our
goals.
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