Rabat – A reception hosted by the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE) in partnership with the Moroccan Embassy in Washington DC, marked a symbolic moment as both countries commemorate 250 years of diplomatic ties.
Current Moroccan Fulbright grantees studying across the US, alumni from previous cohorts, representatives of partner institutions including the World Bank, and members of the Moroccan diaspora attended the reception.
Moroccan Ambassador to the US Youssef Amrani welcomed the Fulbright community and talked about the important role of the exchange program in his remarks. Speaking to alumni and students, he described education as a central pillar of bilateral cooperation.
“What is more important is building bridges, bridging the gaps that could exist between two countries, two continents, and two oceans,” he told MWN during the event.
Ambassador Amrani also recalled, alongside various other diplomats this year, that Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States, calling the relationship a “beautiful cooperation” that spans education, trade, security, and economic exchange.
In addition to this historical milestone, Dr. Rebecca Geffner, Executive Director of MACECE, said that the evening also marks the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright program in 2026.
Each year, she said, MACECE facilitates exchanges for dozens of Moroccans pursuing graduate study, research, and professional development in the US, while also welcoming Americans to Morocco.
“We really encourage more young Moroccans to think about Fulbright and help contribute to this friendship between Morocco and the United States,” Geffner said to MWN. MACECE has been working in Morocco for over four decades, contributing academic exchange and boosting people-to-people diplomacy.
Also in attendance was AMIDEAST President Greta Holtz, who spoke about her organization’s role in administering education and exchange programs across the Middle East and North Africa.
Having recently visited Morocco, Holtz said the reception was an opportunity to reconnect with the country and its people. “I’m delighted and honored to be here tonight to meet so many wonderful Moroccans,” she told MWN.
Rachida Parks, a Fulbright alumna and Professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems at the School of Business, reflected on how her exchange from the United States to Morocco shaped her academic and professional path in a statement to MWN.
Parks pointed to Morocco’s growing role in efforts to develop guidelines for responsible AI. “Right now, we are in the process of building that framework into guidelines that are supporting responsible AI, especially in Morocco,” she said, adding that the initiative could later extend to other African countries.
Beyond the formal remarks, the reception served as a space for conversation and reconnection across generations of Fulbright participants. Conversations throughout the evening reflected the diversity and richness of academic fields between academic of both nations. As Morocco and the United States mark 250 years of partnership, the gathering aimed to deliver a prominent message: this relationship that endures because of the people who continue to invest in it.
Read also: US Embassy Celebrates 250 Years of American Excellence and 10,000 Moroccan Alumni
