Marking the grand occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE), a remarkable event series was unveiled – the MACEE@60 State Led Engagement series. Among the distinguished participants, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) proudly joined in by orchestrating an insightful sharing session, meticulously organized by the enterprising members of the American Chemical Society USM International Student Chapter, with the support of the esteemed School of Chemical Sciences USM.

What truly sets this event apart is that it was impeccably executed by a dedicated team of student volunteers. Seventeen passionate committee members, under the able leadership of Ms. Hervinder Kaur and under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. ChM Dr. Lee Hooi Ling, came together to ensure the success of this initiative. This remarkable collaboration culminated in an event titled “Fulbright Bridging USA & Malaysia via Education,” held on June 3rd, 2023, a Saturday, from 10 am to 12.30 pm at Dewan Pembangunan Siswa I, USM.

The heart of this sharing session rested in the captivating stories of the invited speakers – former MACEE grantees who had a strong connection with USM. Among the distinguished quartet, two luminaries emerged from the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD), while the other two showcased their achievements through the Fulbright Scholar Programs. Each speaker delved into their unique journey as scholars, offering a glimpse into their application process and illuminating the transformative impact these programs had on their personal and professional growth.

The event was inaugurated by none other than MACEE’s Executive Director, Mr. Curtis Johnson, signifying the significance of this gathering. Also, in attendance was Puan Nur Ilanee Binti Mohd Nasir, a distinguished representative from USM’s Students Affairs and Scholarships office. Their presence added a touch of distinction to an already distinguished event.

Dr. G. Veera Singham, a senior lecturer at the Centre of Chemical Biology USM and Fulbright Malaysian Scholar 2022, shared his enthralling journey as a bed bug researcher at the University of California, Riverside.

Associate Professor ChM Dr. Lee Hooi Ling, an accomplished scholar from the School of Chemical Sciences USM and Fulbright US-ASEAN Scholar 2021, shed light on her remarkable path as a chemical security education researcher at the University of New Mexico.

Ms. Priyashinee, a Global UGRAD Finalist 2020-2021 and current employee at the International Workplace Group (IWG), eloquently recounted her semester exchange adventure at Boise State University, Idaho.

Completing the quartet, Ms. Hervinder Kaur, a 3rd year undergraduate student from the School of Biological Sciences USM and Global UGRAD Finalist 2022-2023, shared her enriching semester exchange journey at Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida.

With an overwhelming attendance of 290 participants, including 288 USM students and 2 non-USM attendees, the sharing session undoubtedly made its mark.

Special Acknowledgement to the Committee Members

• Hervinder Kaur Jaswent 
• Divyasri Sevan Pillay
• Mohamad Iman Ivan 
• Nur Ameera Asyiqin
• Nur Farah Yasmin
• Kearthika Thanabalan
• Teh Yu Jie
• Tan Jia Min
• Chin Kian Hui
• Koh Ee Loong
• Muhammad Farid
• Thiruchelvan Ariputhiran
• Ho Fu ZE
• Chew Jun Jie
• Nurul Irdina 
• Nursyahirah Suhaimi
• Sarah A’lya
• Muding @ Muhamad