In commemoration of its 30th anniversary, the Jordanian American Commission for Educational Exchange (JACEE) hosted a reception, on Thursday, with His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal as keynote speaker.

Prince El Hassan praised the history of Fulbright in Jordan, noting that Fulbright embodies the principle of transcendence of identities, cultures, faiths and religions, and lines of thought across boundaries, and towards a plurality of respect.

"These are the values and practices that Fulbright scholars are revered for, and it is precisely what we intended when we opened the ‘Fulbright House’ in Amman on December 8, 1994," His Royal Highness said at the reception, also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Henry T. Wooster and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield.

Prince El Hassan highlighted the importance of encouraging and practicing learning by analogy to learn through experience, discourse across cultural boundaries, and reflection, emphasizing the importance of conversation as a meeting of minds to transform, reshape facts and draw different implications from them and engage in new trains of thoughts.

Also speaking at the reception, Ambassador Wooster celebrated the achievements of Jordanian Fulbright alumni as truly exceptional.

“Jordanian Fulbright alumni include influential figures, such as government ministers, diplomats, performing artists, and leaders of academic, NGO, and business communities. The ripple effect from people-to-people connections made during a study abroad experience expands throughout a lifetime and for generations to come,” he said at the reception.

Also speaking at the reception, Assistant Secretary Satterfield underscored the importance of Fulbright programs in Jordan and globally.

“Today, we use that foundational value of mutual understanding to pursue a world of more shared peace and shared prosperity in key, tangible ways –from more economic opportunity and employability to a cure for the latest global health challenge to a historic peace plan, or perhaps to teach a new generation of future leaders,” she said.

The Commission’s Executive Director, Edward Prados, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for all those who have supported and participated in the Fulbright Program over the years.

He said: "The Fulbright Program is more than just an educational exchange program; it is a transformative experience that builds bridges of understanding and friendship between our two countries. I am honored to lead this prestigious institution and to continue its legacy of excellence and impact. I look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders to enhance and diversify our programs and to create more opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration."

The reception honored the achievements and contributions of the Fulbright alumni community and celebrated the enduring partnership between Jordan and the United States – which the Government of Jordan has honored by increasing its financial support to the Commission in order to help support more funding for Jordanian Fulbright candidates.

Current and former Commission Board Members, Jordanian and American Fulbright alumni, current Fulbright grantees, representatives of higher education institutions in Jordan, and other friends of the Fulbright Program also attended the reception.

As part of the reception program, the Commission’s 30 years of promoting exchanges were showcased by the previous Executive Director Mr. Alain McNamara along with extraordinary alum and grantee, Dr. Sawsan Gharaibeh and Gabriel Davis.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program alum, Rania Ejailat has played astonishing piano pieces as well to highlight Fulbrighters in the field of art and music.  

While celebrating the achievements of the past thirty years, the Fulbright Commission is looking forward to expanding opportunities for academic and cultural exchange in the future.

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