The Fulbright – LUMS alumni dinner celebrated alumni from LUMS who won the Fulbright award
On April 5, 2019, USEFP hosted the first Fulbright – Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) alumni dinner to celebrate and reconnect with LUMS alumni who won the Fulbright award and completed their Master’s or PhD in the United States. LUMS boasts the largest Fulbright alumni community in Pakistan with a total of 567 Fulbright journeys so far.
The alumni dinner brought together some of these brilliant alumni whose educational and professional lives had been enriched by their Fulbright experience. The dinner was hosted by Vice Chancellor LUMS, Dr. Arshad Ahmad, and attended by special guest and founder and Pro-Chancellor LUMS, Syed Babar Ali. Syed Babar Ali is an entrepreneur, industrialist and philanthropist who has received honors and awards from the Government of Sweden, the Netherlands, an OBE from Britain (1997), and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Laws from McGill University, Montreal, Canada (1997). The seminar was also attended by Executive Director USEFP, Rita Akhtar, Director Alumni Affairs, Mazhar Awan, and visiting U.S. Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Nick Zoa.
Addressing the alumni, Syed Babar Ali praised the role of the U.S. government in sustaining the Fulbright program in Pakistan, “It is because of the generosity of the United States Government and the people that we are here today and celebrating the success of brilliant Fulbright alumni.”
LUMS pro-vice-chancellor also spoke to the alumni at the dinner
Rita Akhtar said, “Your success paves the way for others. We encourage you to share your stories with others and inspire. Everyone in the United States values this program and it is the reason that Pakistan has the largest Fulbright Program in the world”. In keeping with this spirit, the Fulbright alumni who were present at the dinner shared the highlights of their exchange journey, memorable experiences and important life lessons learned during their stay in the U.S. The Fulbright program encourages grantees to embrace new experiences, both academic and cultural, and use these experiences to bring about positive change in Pakistan when they return.
On their return to Pakistan, Fulbright alumni contribute in a diverse range of sectors, including education, finance, clinical psychology, engineering, etc. “LUMS has 23 Fulbright alumni who are now teaching here and many others who are working in different fields” said Vice Chancellor Dr. Arshad Ahmad, “We are grateful to all those who invested in your education and in the social capital that you are creating with that investment”.
Iftar dinner at USFP Islamabad:
During this quarter, USEFP also hosted an iftar dinner for its Fulbright and Humphrey alumni and their spouses, at its Islamabad office. Friends, colleagues, and alumni all gathered at the USEFP office in Islamabad to break their fast while also enjoying the company of their fellow alumni. Department of State colleagues also attended the iftar dinner.
Fulbright and Humphrey alumni, who want access to academic grants opportunities, a nationwide contact directory, employment opportunities, and invitations to exclusive national and regional conferences, workshops, and activities, can sign up for the alumni portal here.
