Wuhan State Alumni Reception Provides an Excellent Forum for Public Diplomacy Networking
September 21, 2009: To celebrate the spirit of engagement and cooperation， and honor those who work hard to build stronger ties through academic and cultural exchanges, U.S. Embassy Beijing and Consulate General Wuhan jointly sponsored a 2009 State Alumni Reception in Wuhan. Minister Counselor for Public Affairs Thomas Skipper led a team of Embassy academic and cultural affairs officers and assistants to network with over 80 former grantees and potential grant candidates in Wuhan to demonstrate the importance of academic and exchanges programs. The Consul General invited senior Hubei and Wuhan government officials to join the meaningful event, and used the occasion to lobby for further collaboration and support to help build mutual understanding and respect, as both sides celebrate the 30th anniversary of our bilateral relations.
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| Minister Counselor Tom Skipper, Consul General Wendy Lyle and U.S. Fulbright Scholar John Zheng, among other, addressed the 2009 Wuhan State Alumni Reception |
Four state alumni gave presentations sharing their plans and experiences: Professor John Zheng, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar from Mississippi Valley State University, now teaching American Literature at Huazhong Normal University; Professor Ji Li of Wuhan University, who went to the U.S. in 2008 for a six-week institute to better understand American media; Professor Neil Gotanda, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar from Western State University in California, now teaching American legal system at Wuhan University; and Professor Ye Xiaohua of Wuhan University’s School of Journalism and Communication, who also went to the U.S. in 2008 for six weeks to study U.S. political thought.
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| 100 U.S. and Chinese attendees participated in the Wuhan State Alumni Reception |
To showcase the warm collaboration between U.S. Consulate General Wuhan and Wuhan cultural leaders, Wuhan Theater for Performing Arts provided entertainment during the event to showcase the music artistry of its director Benjamin Sun, who is a former U.S. scholarship recipient and an award-winning Chinese-American composer, erhu master and dedicated teacher of performing arts. Mr. Sun is collaborating closely with Consul General Lyle to prepare for the Alumni Ensemble of Harlem Choir’s visit to Wuhan in late October as the first cultural performance sponsored by the U.S. government since the establishment of the Consulate General in November 2008.
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| Award-winning Chinese American composer and musician Ben Sun performed Chinese Instrument er-hu at Wuhan State Alumni Reception |
