TULANE TALK

December 3, 2010

Good Morning:

This evening I leave for Qatar where I will speak at the “World Innovation Summit for Education.” The summit will bring together world leaders in education, business and government to discuss the most innovative ways to prepare students to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing and increasingly interconnected world.

While in Qatar I also plan to meet with a number of officials including the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage; the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar; the directors of the Qatar Science and Technology Park (which is home to technology-based companies from around the world) and others.

The summit will provide an opportunity to tell, on a world stage, the remarkable story of Tulaneís and New Orleans’ recovery, which includes the extraordinary and continuing transformation of our K-12 public education system. It will also give me an opportunity to express again our gratitude for the $15 million in funding received from the Qatar Foundation, a private, non-profit organization founded by His Highness the Emir of Qatar, in support of our student scholarships and community health initiatives.

This funding came not long after Katrina and was deeply appreciated and needed. I will tell you more about my visit when I return.

Have a great weekend,