(Washington, D.C.) – The US-ASEAN Business Council Institute (USABCI), the charitable arm of the US-ASEAN Business Council, is pleased to announce that former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel has joined the Myanmar Scholarship Fund steering committee as Patron. He will serve with Ambassador Derek Mitchell, also a former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar, on the steering committee.
During his foreign service career of more than 35 years, Ambassador Marciel served as U.S. ambassador to Myanmar from 2016-20, Indonesia from 2010-13, and as the first U.S. ambassador for ASEAN affairs from 2008-10. He twice served as the senior U.S. official responsible for Southeast Asia in the State Department, first as deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific and later as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific. Following his ambassadorships, he worked as a visiting scholar and practitioner fellow at Stanford University’s Walter Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center.
“We are grateful to Ambassador Scot Marciel for lending his name and recognition to the Myanmar Scholarship Fund by serving as its Patron,” said USABCI President Elizabeth Dugan. “As U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar during the country’s critical phase of democratic transition, Scot understood the essential role of Myanmar youth in building the country’s future through education. Just as he did his utmost to empower and unlock this potential during his ambassadorship, he is now bringing the same passion and leadership to partner with the U.S. private sector to uplift the next generation of Myanmar scholars in their time of need.”
“I am delighted to join the steering committee of the Myanmar Scholarship Fund.”, said Ambassador Scot Marciel. “It represents a great initiative by the U.S. private sector via the US-ASEAN Business Council Institute to help Myanmar students in the United States complete their studies during this perilous time for their country. Investing now in Myanmar’s next generation is the best way we can help the country build a peaceful and prosperous future in which everyone enjoys freedom and opportunity.”
The USABCI Myanmar Scholarship Fund is raising US$6 million over the next three years to provide scholarships for U.S.-based Myanmar students whose education has been disrupted by the political and economic situation in Myanmar and are now facing financial difficulties in completing their degree programs. In the 2022-2023 pilot year, US$5000 merit-based scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who are already enrolled in accredited U.S. universities. The management of the issuance of the scholarships is being carried out by the Institute of International Education, a well-respected leader in international education.
Since the application window’s closing on June 6, the USABCI has received more than 300 applications from Myanmar students across 156 different universities in the United States. Among the applicants, 56 percent identify themselves as male and 44 percent as female. Students pursuing degrees in computer and information science are the largest represented, followed by business and engineering. Additionally, 16 percent of the applicants are pursuing or will be pursuing master’s degree programs in the fall of 2022, 52 percent are pursuing bachelor’s degrees, and 32 percent are pursuing associate’s degrees.
The USABCI Myanmar Scholarship Fund is made possible by the strong support of its founding Chair, the late Madeleine Albright; fundraising efforts of its founding partners, US-ASEAN Business Council, US ICT Council for Myanmar, and Albright Stonebridge Group; an initial endowment from Chevron and contributions from Meta, The Asia Group, BowerGroupAsia, McLarty Associates and other friends of Myanmar.
Individuals interested in making a direct contribution should contact USABCI Myanmar Scholarship Fund Program Director Jack Myint at jmyint@usasean.org.
Source: US-ASEAN Business Council