As a follow up of Ambassador Nirupama Rao’s official visit to South Carolina in February 2012, the Embassy hosted a reception for the Baltimore and DC based alumni of Clemson University, South Carolina on November 27, 2012. With over 125 guests in attendance, the event marked the first such interaction between the Embassy and Clemson University. Ambassador Rao along with the President of the university Dr. James Barker addressed the gathering on this occasion.
 
In her remarks, Ambassador recalled her trip to South Carolina earlier this year, summarizing her excellent impressions of that visit. Speaking of her warm interaction with Clemson University alumnus and the first female governor of the state, Governor Nikki Haley, Ambassador Rao added that she was highly optimistic about the potential of multifaceted collaboration between India and the state of South Carolina. She particularly highlighted the possibilities in this direction in the areas of education, automobile industry, urban planning and infrastructure.
 
President Barker thanked the Embassy for hosting the university alumni, and spoke at length about the contributions of Indians and Indian-American students to Clemson University. He said that these students, whether in science or humanities, have been at the heart of advancing Clemson University’s national and global standing. In this context, he mentioned that Dr. Autar Kaw, a Clemson alumnus and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of South Florida, has been named U.S Professor of the Year (2012), the highest honour in the United States for undergraduate teaching,  by Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching.

President Barker invited Ambassador Rao to again visit the university and address students and faculty in the near future.
 
Prior to the public event, Ambassador Rao also had a restricted meeting with President Barker to discuss possible partnerships between the Clemson University and universities in India in the larger context of India-US cooperation in the field of higher education.