Mr. Thomas Vallely, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fulbright University Vietnam, received the medal from President Joe Biden - Photo: UPI
Mr. Thomas J. Vallely, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fulbright University Vietnam, is often considered one of the driving forces behind the founding of this university.
The Presidential Citizens Medal award ceremony was held at the White House, hosted by President Joe Biden on January 2, 2025 (local time).
The Presidential Citizens Medal is awarded by the United States to individuals who have made significant contributions and created significant positive impacts.
This year, Mr. Vallely is one of 20 outstanding individuals recognized for their persistent efforts in promoting the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the United States over the past 50 years.
The White House website wrote: “Mr. Thomas Vallely has always maintained a strong desire for peace . Over the course of half a century, he has played an important role in connecting Vietnam and the United States – founding Fulbright University Vietnam, promoting cultural and economic exchanges, and overcoming barriers from the past to look to the future.”
Since 2024, Mr. Thomas J. Vallely has also been serving as Senior Advisor on Vietnam at the Southeast Asia Institute at Columbia University (USA).
Prior to that, he spent 35 years at Harvard University, where he founded the Harvard Vietnam Program in 1989 and the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP) in Ho Chi Minh City in 1994.
Through his research with the Harvard Vietnam Program, Mr. Vallely has fostered frank and constructive policy dialogues with the Vietnamese government , focusing on Vietnam's development challenges.
Under his leadership, FETP has become a center of excellence in public policy research and teaching, and a pioneer in building modern models of state governance in Vietnam.
In addition, Mr. Vallely also played a key role in establishing Fulbright University Vietnam.
Received Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Award
Mr. Vallely was a political consultant and was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1980, serving until 1987. From 2014 to 2017, Mr. Thomas Vallely served on the Foreign Policy Advisory Council of the US State Department.
Mr. Vallely holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and served in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam.
In 2014, the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Foundation awarded Mr. Vallely the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Award in recognition of his contributions to higher education in Vietnam.
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