U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige and Vietnam Education Foundation Board Chairman Herbert M. Allison Jr. today announced the appointment of Kien Duc Trung Pham as the first executive director of the Vietnam Education Foundation.

The Vietnam Education Foundation is an independent federal agency aimed at building stronger relations between the United States and Vietnam through education, primarily through scholarships and education exchange.

"This new foundation will have an important impact in developing Vietnamese leaders in several scientific fields," Secretary Paige said. "I congratulate Kien Pham on his appointment and am confident his leadership and record of achievement will enable this foundation to significantly enhance the relationship between the United States and Vietnam."

"Kien Pham brings to the Vietnam Education Foundation a solid record of leadership and broad experience in the private, government and non-profit sectors, plus a unique cultural and political understanding of both the United States and Vietnam," Chairman Allison said. "We are pleased that Kien will bring his exceptional experience, energy and leadership skills to directing the Vietnam Education Foundation's important activities."

The Vietnam Education Foundation provides fellowships for Vietnamese nationals to pursue graduate and post-graduate studies in the physical, natural and environmental sciences, mathematics, technology (including information technology) and medicine. The foundation also assists U.S. citizens with teaching opportunities in Vietnam.

Individuals interested in fellowship opportunities, especially Vietnamese nationals who await acceptance or have been accepted to U.S. universities in the fields listed above should e-mail the foundation at InfoRequest@vef.gov.

Pham was born in Vietnam and came to the United States in 1977. He is the founding chairman of the Vietnam Forum Foundation, an organization created to provide educational and humanitarian support to Vietnam.

From 1985-86, Pham was a White House Fellow and served as special assistant to the U.S. Trade Representative. In 1989, he was appointed special assistant for International Security Affairs to the Secretary of Defense. Pham went on to work for Tenneco Energy as vice president and general manager for East Asia and the Pacific and as senior managing director of Utility Choice Electric in Houston.

In 2000, Pham received the White House Fellows Legacy of Leadership Award. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder and earned a master's degree and MBA from Stanford University.

The Vietnam Education Foundation's board includes six private citizens appointed by the president, four members of Congress and three cabinet secretaries.

Board members include: Education Secretary Paige; Treasury Secretary John Snow; Secretary of State Colin Powell; Board Chairman Allison of TIAA-CREF; Robert Bryant of Duke University; Frank Jao of Bridgecreek, Calif.; Chung Kim of the Korea Institute for Advanced Study; Marilyn Pattillo of the University of Texas; Tuan Joseph Pham of Capitol Development Company; Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.; Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.; U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., and U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif.

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