Future Fulbrighter

Former Fulbrighter

First of all, Congratulations. You have been such a dear friend for so long.

I remember you as a student arriving in Brussels and falling in love with Belgium (and us Belgians???) as we did with you...and I am so happy to be able to celebrated that friendship now years later.

When I think of you, I think of your friendship and your professionalism and then of your MEMORY and I marvel every time... I do not even try to remember any more as long as you are there we are all safe that things are recorded for the future.

Not only have we WORKED together, we have also PLAYED golf together for many years ( thank you for remembering where MY ball fell...luckily, I would be searching for ever)

May you have many more wonderful years to come and may I be a part of them...

When I think of SERVICE, I think of you and MUST send you this explanation of what it means...

Dear Maggie,

Congratulations on twenty five years serving The Fulbright Commission in Belgium.  Madame De Flanders would have been proud.  And who would have guessed how long you would stay back when we were neighbors at Place de la Petite Suisse…or when you broke into my apartment.  It was lucky Fulbright didn’t know that then, but they do now.

I always knew the breaking and entering photo would come in useful when you had gone places you never dreamed, back in 1975, that you would go…

You are an inspiration to all of the Americans who have passed through the Fulbright Office over the years and you have defined an exchange that truly works.  Congratulations. 

Janet Polasky

We send our fondest good wishes in the wake of a quarter century of dedication, warmth, hospitality, grace, pizzazz and reassuring competence. We are grateful to you for all that you have done for so many of us. Lee joins me in wishing you all the very best. Sincerely,

Steve Whitfield
(Leuven, fall 1993)

I was in Belgium with my Fulbright scholar husband January-May 2002. Although I have Belgian relatives and can speak a little French, I was out of touch with Belgian customs and attitudes Maggie was an invaluable resource, especially in the early days. She is the perfect blend of European sophistication, civility and joie de vivre and American enthusiasm and energy. How many times did we say “let’s ask Maggie” when we had a question or were a little bit panicked (this was the post-9/11 spring, after all)? She never failed us. Knowing she was there was so reassuring; we could reap the maximum benefit from out stay because we could rely on her to guide us. Henry James, the American writer whose great subject was the uneasy meeting of Americans and Europeans, would have found in her a happy combination of the two, a reality he could not successfully create in fiction.

Having said all that, I must say that one of my fondest memories of Maggie is much less serious. She is, as everyone knows, a formidable organizer. A trip with Maggie means everything will run well and on schedule (or else). Unfortunately for Maggie’s schedule, many Fulbrighters, at least on this particular trip, had reached early middle age. Unlike Maggie, who must have a bladder made of iron, we took advantage of every “pit stop” available. Since there were a number of us, this meant the trip began to run a little late. Finally, Maggie said (I paraphrase to the best of my memory) in exasperation: “What’s the matter with you people? Can’t you hold it in? I feel like I’m traveling with a bunch of children.” Sorry, mom. You know we tried our best the rest of the trip.

Thanks, Maggie, for everything. Have a wonderful 25th anniversary
celebration.

Dear Maggie,

First, I concur with all Julia, my wife, says above. In addition, I thank you for making my first Fulbright experience so pain-free and memorable.

Your patient responses to my many, frantic e-mails made me actually believe you hadn’t answered the same questions hundreds of times before. We were especially grateful for the green guide you put together and for the many recommendations of wonderful places to visit and to eat
throughout Belgium. The trip to Liege was particularly memorable.

Congratulations,

Warren Rosenberg, Fulbright Scholar, Catholic University of Louvain,
Spring 2002

Warren Rosenberg
rosenbew@wabash.edu

Warren Rosenberg
English Department
Wabash College
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
765 361-6275

As usual, I'm one of the late ones in acknowledging something that should have been done some time ago. But I can't let the year pass without saying congratulations on 25 years of making a difference in the world.

You know, of course, how much all five of the Brands benefited from our
year as a family of Fulbrighters in 1989-90. Your touch kept us sane, busy,and well-informed, not to mention well-connected with the Belgian Fulbrighters and Belgium in general.

Josh is now an artist in New York -- acareer decision he openly attributes to his year in Belgium.

Megan (and her husband Brit) are spending six months in Nicaragua, learning Spanish and working with children there. Her time as a "foreigner" surely gave her special insight into the needs of children in diverse situations and the importance of communication across cultures. She will begin graduate school at the Erikson Institute in Chicago this fall to further her goals in that area. Lindsey will graduate from Miami University of Ohio this May, and has foregone a spring break trip in order to be able to spend a month in May-June working with children in the Dominican Republic.

For all of them, the Fulbright experience has affected their lives, and the many lessons of a year in Belgium repeatedly surface to help them in many ways.

As for Mary and me, we are busy at home, with my career still based very much on my research and the many wonderful relationships built during the year in Brussels. At the Center for International Legal Education here in Pittsburgh, we continue to work with legal academics from Brussels and Ghent -- and those relationships have been shared with almost a third of the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who have been a part of the exchange.

It is a wonderful thing to be good at working with people and enriching their lives so much. You have touched many in ways you will not always know. The Fulbright operation remains one of the very best (and least appreciated) aspects of our foreign policy, and you have had an important role in bringing that home to many. Thanks for a quarter century of great work!

Stick around -- we'll be back for a visit some time.

Ron Brand

Professor Ronald A. Brand
Director, Center for International Legal Education
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
3900 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
phone: 412-648-1307
fax: 412-648-2648
email: brand@law.pitt.edu
www.law.pitt.edu/cile

Heartfelt congratulations on your 25 years of service with the Fulbright Commission in Belgium. I was one of the lucky ones who had a Fulbright European Area studies grant and Belgium was one of my “three countries” of focus. Thank you for all you have done to be an ambassador in this post for so long. I am sure it has whipped by in no time for you. Belgium is such a fascinating and wonderful country. I am so proud to have you in this post!

Sister Helen Rolfson, OSF
Assoc. Prof. of Theology
St John's University
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2105

Letter of appreciation in PDF | Picture 1 and Picture 2

Charles A. Wilkie
Professor
Department of Chemistry
Marquette University
PO Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201

There is a US ambassador and a Belgian ambassador. And sometimes we dream about the ideal US ambassador and the ideal Belgian ambassador. But there is a person who is both at the same time and that is … you, Maggie!

Thank you, Maggie, for all you did over the last 25 years for the Fulbright program - which reminds us that we, newly wed, left Belgium for the US 25 years ago thanks to Guido's Fulbright fellowship - and thanks in advance for your unrivalled dedication to the program in the coming years.

With warm regards,

Guido and Marleen De Wit

There is no doubt that one of the main reasons I remember my time in Belgium so fondly was because Maggie was such a superb organizer. Her dedication to service and friendly style were exemplary. Not only were our stipends raised when costs turned out to be higher than originally planned. We also had the most superbly planned visits to all the major cities in Belgium and Luxembourg often being guided around the town by prominent locals. She made sure we always had an opportunity to taste the local cuisine in fine restaurants. This touch of class and her consummate professionalism made our stay not only productive but also contributed to the very pleasant memories we all carry with us.

Edward Deskur 81'-'82

In counting back the years I think that I must have been part of your second "class" of Fulbrighters (1982-1983). Already at that time you had made great strides with the Fulbright program in Belgium - making it a truly outstanding program of intercultural and educational exchange! Every time I am in Brussels I fondly remember my time as a Fulbrighter. Thank you for your many contributions to what must be one of the best Fulbright programs in the world!

Congratulations on 25 years with the Fulbright Commission in Belgium and continued success! All the best,

June (Wachtler) Vangerven

Dear Maggie,

25 years ago you started out here in Brussels and 25 years ago I left on a Fulbright to go to Stanford. I still remember the little ceremony in Brussels before I left where you were introduced to the departing group of Belgian students and scholars. While I was in the US, receiving administrative letters from you that were clear and to the point but always warm and friendly made me feel part of a real Fulbright “family”. And of course, since I’ve returned, you’ve always been the constant, warm person who has continued to give me this sense of Fulbright “belonging”. All us Fulbright kids owe you!

Annick De Houwer

Dear Maggie,

The list of compliments and well-wishers is long already, but I have one more point to add.

You have not only helped all of us to get to know the United States and become open-minded, cross-atlantic and what have you, but you have also helped many of us to see our own country in a different light.

You have done that by proclaiming on many an occasion an undying, unconditional love for Belgium that we Belgians need perhaps to hear more often than citizens of other countries.

It has always brought me tremendous pleasure, warmth and a certain degree of pride to hear you proclaim yet again that you just love this place and that you will never "go back". Even when times were really hard and you had to continue the journey without your husband, you stayed put. You stayed for the friendship, the hospitality and the food. You did not mind the climate and you have gone as far as changing your passport. You have found a home in this country in a way that makes me, us, the Belgians, feel good and lucky.

You have made me feel good and lucky about being a resident of Belgium. That too is a quite an accomplishment for which I wanted to express a few words of heartfelt thanks.

With warmest regards,

Arne Gutermann Baker & McKenzie

Dearest Maggie,

What an evening! It was wonderful to see the recognition of your devotion and hard work for a great cause.We enjoyed every moment of a memorable evening.

We are proud of you!

Much love,

Alan and Hanne Calnan

Dear Maggie,

Last night's tribute at the Embassy was well deserved. You have served the Fulbright program and its many high-flying eagles so well over the years.

You have helped many students and scholars come down to earth, come out of their libraries and enjoy the "real life" of a fantastic and true cross-cultural experience.

You indeed have made it possible for scholars and students to meet each other, to discover the country, to feel at ease and at home on the other side of the Atlantic, and to build bridges of friendship and understanding.

Your personal touch, your network of contacts, and your sense of humor have helped a great deal. It certainly made and makes our Board and committee meetings pleasant, and I look forward to many more opportunities to sit together, talk and work together on and about the program in the future. The next generation deserves to be as lucky as the one that has already benefited from your 25 years of service.

Jean Van den Eynde

Dear Maggie,

I won't get into any long-winded eulogies; nor will I pull any sentimental anecdotes out of the hat. I shall leave those to the more artistically creative amongst us. All I can offer is a repeated slip-of-the tongue, over the years, which says it all. How many times have I, in the midst of a conversation with another academic or member of the American community in Brussels, caught myself referring to you as ... yes ... Maggie Fulbright. Nuff' said? Nuff' said!

Kind regards and all the best from your colleague and friend,

Bill
William L. Chew III, PhD
President, Belgian Luxembourg American Studies Association

Dear Maggie,

Congratulations on all these years of hard work. But above all, thanks for your contribution to an amazing program. It is the people behind it that make it great and this surely counts for you.

But how you manage to remember all our names, addresses, professional activities, social numbers etc. by heart?

Warm regards,

Frederic Eggermont

Dear Maggie,

It was a pleasure to see your hard work & devotion to Fulbright celebrated last night; you deserve all the accolades.

In the more than 10 years I've known you, you've thrown yourself wholeheartedly into all you do: your devotion to the Fulbright, bridge, golf, and helping whoever has needed you.

I'm sure you'll surpass this record during the next 25 years. You go girl!

Lis Smith

Dearest Maggie,

Congratulations on so many years of wonderful work for the Fulbright here in Belgium.  I have had the pleasure of knowing you since you arrived here as a student... When I think of you I think of friendship and professionalism and MEMORY...I know you really remember everything and everybody!!  We have WORKED together and PLAYED golf together for many years (you even remember where my ball falls... I would still be searching if it were not for you).

Thanks for everything  
Eliane Van Stichel

Dear Maggie,

First, I would like to apologize for not being able to say these few words to you in person. Due to some unforeseen event, I cannot be with you this evening.

Maggie, you have been living in Belgium for thirty years now and we have known each other for more than 25 of those. In many ways, you have become the most Belgian of Americans: you can converse with us in the two national languages, you have become addicted to our chocolate, and I believe you even like mayonnaise on your French fries.

On a more serious note, I would like to thank you on behalf of all those Belgian and American students and scholars you have helped over the years to secure a Fulbright fellowship: thanks to your hard work and unfailing dedication, they have become the best ambassadors of their respective cultures abroad. You know all of us Fulbrighters by name, and you remember each and everyone's face. How do you that?

I wish you all the best for many more years with the Fulbright in Belgium.

Your friend,

Alain Piette
Director
Ecole d'Interprètes Internationaux de l'Université de Mons-Hainaut
Fulbright grantee '93

Maggie,

Je voulais que tu saches que je regrette sincèrement que d’ « ennuyeuses contraintes administratives » m’aient empêchée de pouvoir prendre part à la réception très particulière de ce soir.  J’aurais bien aimé voir ta réaction devant toutes ces surprises que j’ai appris que l’on te réservait. 

Mais, même si je ne suis pas présente parmi vous, sache que j’aurai pour toi ce soir une pensée toute particulière.  Je te félicite en tous cas pour ces 25 années passées à travailler au service de ce merveilleux programme, participant ainsi au fait que s’accomplissent depuis des années les projets de tant d’étudiants et de chercheurs !  Enjoy your evening !!

Laurence

Best wishes,
Patrick Kelley