U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 15, 2007
Media Note
2007/194

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen P. Hughes will lead a delegation of prominent senior U.S. government officials and U.S. college and university presidents to Mumbai and New Delhi, India on March 24-30, 2007.

Through meetings with students and leaders in higher education, government, and business, the delegation will promote the quality, dynamism, and diversity of U.S. higher education as well as Americans’ desire to expand educational partnerships with Indians. The delegation will carry the message that the U.S. welcomes and values international students who want to study in the United States, and they will highlight the importance of international education to strengthening U.S.-India ties and preparing globally competitive American students at educational institutions.

This unique pairing of U.S. government and higher education leaders is the second in a series of delegations stemming from a commitment to greater partnership in the national interest made at the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education co-hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings in January 2006.

The delegation traveling to India will include: Ambassador Karen P. Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Thomas A. Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs; Dr. John J. Bowen, President, Johnson and Wales University; Dr. Mark A. Emmert, President, University of Washington; Dr. Margaret B. Lee, President, Oakton Community College; Dr. John M. Lilley, President, Baylor University; Dr. James L. Oblinger, Chancellor, North Carolina State University; and Dr. Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran, President, Kalamazoo College.

For more information, please contact ECA Outreach at ECAO@state.gov.