This June, Chairman Randal Teague embarked on a journey overseas where he hosted several alumni reunions in a variety of cities throughout the Balkans and North Africa. Teague was in the region for business related to the many boards on which he serves.
More than 150 alumni attended the reunion dinners and receptions. The groups were often joined by TFAS board members as well as 2011 TFAS students. These reunions allowed regional alumni to strengthen their relationships with fellow and future alumni while meeting face-to-face with TFAS leadership.
Teague’s excursion began in Zagreb with stops in Sarajevo, Budapest, Cairo, Athens, and Tirana before concluding in Skopje.
The events boasted impressive turnouts. More than 50 alumni attended the reunion in Athens, and over 25 guests joined Teague in Skopje. While flight delays caused Teague to miss the Cairo reunion, the event still pulled in over 25 enthusiastic alumni, which sparked discussion of forming an official alumni chapter in the city.
“Throughout my trip alumni told me that TFAS changed their lives,’” said Teague. “This gave me confirmation that our institutes not only assist our students in developing a better understanding of the world around them but also a better understanding of themselves.”
During the various dinners and receptions attendees discussed their experiences as students and their lives post TFAS. Conversations often drifted to contemporary politics as Teague facilitated debates with pointed questions. Such exchanges proved the importance of TFAS International in bringing together future leaders from a variety of backgrounds to foster a climate of cooperation and dialogue where even the strongest political differences are discussed in a calm and amicable environment.
All of the events were well attended and engaging thanks to the help and planning of Miso Dokmanovic (I 02), Alla Myshalova (A 07), Mariann Boros (A 05), Mihael Sutalo (I 10), Ahmed Morsy (I 07) and Lana Ackar (A 05, I 06) as well as IIPES Board of Visitors members Theodossis Georgiou, Dr. Aliki Mitsakos and Lesley Israel.