Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic introduced a packed room of interested students to the panelists

During a special panel at the 2009 U.S. University Fair, three prominent Cypriot alumni of universities in the United States shared their personal stories of how studying in the U.S. helped them achieve success in their chosen professions. Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic and the U.S. Embassy's Alumni Coordinator, Sondra Sainsbury, introduced a packed room of interested students to the panelists:

• Dr. Anna Charalambous received her B.S. degree in Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics from Yale University in 2001. She went on to receive her Ph.D. from The Rockefeller University in molecular immunology and vaccine biology, with a focus on cancer prevention and treatment. Dr. Charalambous is currently a lecturer at the University of Cyprus and continues to work on developing a cancer vaccine.

• Dr. Jale Refik-Rogers graduated magna cum laude on a Fulbright Scholarship from the University of Maine. Afterwards, she worked at Harvard Medical School and pursued her Ph.D. at Cornell Medical School and Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Near East University and helped found the Faculty of Pharmacy and Molecular Biology laboratory. Dr. Refik-Rogers is also on the board of the T/C Human Rights Foundation.

• Mr. Takis Hadjiandreou graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Economics. After further study in the UK, he received his professional qualification in chartered insurance and went on to co-found and direct the Progressive Insurance Company in Cyprus. He is the Acting President of the local Penn State Alumni Association, as well as the President of the Liability Committee of the Cyprus Insurance Companies Association.

As native Cypriots who returned to their home country after studying in the U.S., Dr. Charalambous, Dr. Refik-Rogers and Mr. Hadjiandreou explained how the U.S. liberal arts curriculum encouraged them to think creatively and independently, and allowed them to explore areas of personal interest outside out of their primary fields of study. They explained the enriching benefits of attending classes with a multicultural student body, and how U.S. universities offer hands-on research opportunities at the undergraduate level, something that is unheard of at most European universities. Offering stories about quirky classmates and fond memories of life in student dormitories, the panelists helped illustrate that a significant portion of U.S. education takes place outside of classroom walls.

The panel also helped debunk the myth that U.S. universities are too expensive for Cypriots; indeed, many students cover tuition through a combination of scholarships, work-study programs, and student aid directly from their schools.