On March 21, 2026, USIEF hosted a Fulbright alumni-led panel in Bengaluru titled “Higher Education as a Bridge: Deepening U.S.-India Collaboration in Research and Innovation.” The event brought together more than 50 Fulbright alumni representing a range of academic and professional disciplines to discuss the role of higher education, research, and innovation in strengthening U.S.-India collaboration. U.S. Consul General Chennai Mariana L. Neisular delivered the opening remarks.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, USIEF is showcasing a series of special events and activities featuring our Fulbright grantees and alumni. Through panels, seminars, and public engagement events, these programs highlight American excellence and innovation while exploring how the Fulbright Program continues to strengthen the U.S.-India relationship.
Alumni-led panel on “Higher Education as a Bridge: Deepening U.S.-India Collaboration in Research and Innovation”
Public lecture titled “American Excellence in Public Administration and Public Policy”
On May 28, 2026, Fulbright Specialist James Agbodzakey, Professor at the University of North Texas, delivered a public lecture titled “American Excellence in Public Administration and Public Policy” at Panjab University, Punjab. Professor Agbodzakey explored the constitutional foundations of American governance, including separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and democratic accountability. More than 50 participants from Panjab University and other institutions attended.
Public lecture titled “American Excellence in Public Administration and Public Policy”
On July 6, 2026, Fulbright Specialist Torrey (Ty) K. Lawson, Joan Konner Visiting Professor of Journalism at Columbia University, delivered a public lecture titled “Speaking Truth to Power: The American Journalism Tradition” at M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai. Lawson discussed journalistic independence and the role of a free press in protecting democracy through truth, verification, and accountability. Drawing on examples including Ida B. Wells, civil rights reporting, the Pentagon Papers, Watergate, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, the #MeToo investigations, and Black Lives Matter coverage, he illustrated how evidence-based journalism has shaped public awareness and social change in the United States and beyond. Approximately 300 students, faculty members, and media professionals attended.
International symposium titled “Comparative Legislative Processes: United States Congress and Indian Parliament”
On August 1, 2026, National Law University(NLU) Jodhpur, Rajasthan hosted an international symposium titled “Comparative Legislative Processes: United States Congress and Indian Parliament.” Fulbright Specialist Dr. Paul Koster, Professor of Practice at Emory University School of Law, delivered the inaugural address, reflecting on 250 years of constitutional democracy in the United States. His remarks highlighted the durability of the American constitutional system and the ways in which the continued interpretation, application, and preservation of constitutional principles have strengthened democratic institutions over the past two and a half centuries. The symposium drew more than 100 participants from NLU Jodhpur as well as approximately 20 participants representing law schools from across India.
