By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson visited Mariano Marcos State University today, February 8, to reaffirm the longstanding friendship of the US Embassy and MMSU. 

This morning, Amb. Carlson was welcomed by University President Shirley C. Agrupis and other university officials at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall. Joining the meeting were Col. Edward Evans, Senior Defense Official; Ms. Tiffany Venmahavong, Economic Officer; Ms. Samantha Parkes, Political Officer; and Mr. Kanishka Gangopadhyay, Press Attache.

The US ambassador said she is proud of the continuing partnership between MMSU and American Corner (AC) in Batac, “which has contributed significantly to promoting US government programs in Ilocos, establishing a strong alumni network in North Luzon, and delivering programs that empower youth and girls in science.”

“Relations between MMSU and US Embassy are close and extremely positive. We are committed to continuing our support for MMSU and numerous other institutions of higher learning throughout the Philippines, through our AC program, US Agency for International Development initiatives, educational and professional exchanges, and other opportunities for collaboration,” she added.

President Agrupis thanked the American ambassador for always considering MMSU as a valued partner of the embassy for various development initiatives, saying MMSU “commits to further heighten the productive collaboration of the two institutions.” 

Immediately after the meeting, the ambassador visited the AC-Batac at the MMSU Main Library. She also went to the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center and the Food Processing and Innovation Center. NBERIC is a partner of the USAID-Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation for Development program. 

She also met with English Language (EL) Fellow Dr. Kirsten Dyck, MMSU personnel who availed of US exchange programs, other faculty and students. (Dr. Dyck currently teaches English language students of the university.) She thanked the university for hosting Dr. Dyck, one of the first in-person EL fellows to work in the Philippines since the beginning of the pandemic. 

She also awarded certificates to Engr. Eric Halabaso and Engr. Loreli Faye Manzano, NBERIC researchers, for successfully completing a course on ethanol procurement for importers delivered by the Northern Crops Institute at North Dakota State University in the US. 

Amb. Carlson was nominated by US President Joe Biden on February 4 as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of the Philippines. She was confirmed by the US Senate on May 5, 2022. She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor. 

She is the third US ambassador who visited MMSU, following ambassadors Harry Thomas in August 2012 and Philip Goldberg in 2014. 

For 37 years, the MMSU-US Embassy partnership has provided funds, equipment and resources to the university; trained personnel; and introduced new trends in library and information management to the University Library System. MMSU is maintaining the AC, the American Space for Northern Luzon which was inaugurated on January 14, 1985. 

The university is also a recipient of Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund projects from the US Department of State since 2021. Through grants, MMSU was able to train women to produce organic soaps, and expose young girls to the science profession. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)