Open Letter in Support of Jasmina Vujic

[August 4, 2020] We write this letter to support our friend and Serbian-American community leader, Jasmina Vujic. Jasmina’s professional reputation as a pioneering nuclear engineer, world-renowned researcher, and outstanding educator is well known. But most are unaware of Jasmina’s tireless charitable and humanitarian work on behalf of the Berkeley community, her students, and the Serbian-American Diaspora. We would like to highlight some of the contributions Jasmina has made to her community that illustrate her selfless character and why those who know her best hold Jasmina in high esteem.

In 2001, Jasmina and her colleagues established the Electrical Engineering Department Belgrade Alumni and Friends Association (ETF-BAFA) in the US, an organization that provides charitable, educational, and professional services to alumni, students and faculty of the University of Belgrade. ETF-BAFA has nearly 500 members, most of whom live and work in Silicon Valley. Over the first two decades of its existence, the organization has donated thousands of computers and servers to schools, churches, and universities in the United States and Serbia. It has helped construct an experimental physics and electrical engineering laboratory at the University of Belgrade, raised $15,000 for flood relief in Serbia in 2014, and raised $10,000 to build a high school computer laboratory in 2018. ETF-BAFA has provided scholarships and awards to over hundred best and brightest students at Belgrade University since 2001. Without Jasmina’s dedication, vision, and leadership, none of this would have been possible.

From 2001-2007, Jasmina served as Vice President of the Serbian Unity Congress, a nonpartisan organization that promotes Serbian-American culture and heritage. Jasmina’s work at the Serbian Unity Congress supported democracy and reconstruction in Serbian territories devastated by war. At the same time, Jasmina helped establish the Serbian American Congress to improve coordination among several organizations that support democracy and oppose corruption in Serbia.

In 2001, Jasmina was one of two Serbian-Americans appointed to the Serbian Diaspora Council, an advisory committee to Serbian President Vojislav Kostunica. As a member of the Council, Jasmina advised President Kostunica and Parliament on issues affecting the Serbian Diaspora. In 2006, Serbia’s government awarded Jasmina the Tesla Plaque in honor of her work promoting science in the United States and around the world. Several times over the years Jasmina has helped organize official visits for Serbian Ministers of Science and Innovation as well as delegations from Belgrade University.

In 2015, with the help of her colleagues from the Academy of Engineering Sciences of Serbia, and hundreds of academics and engineers, Jasmina successfully opposed the sale of Serbia’s state-owned telecommunication company, Telekom Srbija. She warned that the sale would result in thousands of lost jobs and enrich corrupt government officials.

As a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley since 1992, Jasmina has mentored hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers across several scientific fields in the private sector, government, and academia. Since the Berkeley Organization of Serbian Students was founded in 1999, Jasmina has served as Faculty Advisor, helping the organization coordinate events benefiting the whole Berkeley community.

Jasmina’s professional reputation is well-known, but to us, she is also a caring friend, community leader, and dedicated humanitarian. Ever since arriving in Berkeley, she has been a major benefactor of the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox parish in Moraga, California. We are thankful for the time and effort Jasmina has devoted over the years to making our community and society a better place and are proud to support her in all of her endeavors.

SIGNED (July 2020)

His Grace Bishop Maxim, Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America
Alhambra, California

His Grace Bishop Grigorije, Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Düsseldorf and all of Germany
Düsseldorf, Germany

Ron Radakovich
Corporate Vice President (Emeritus), Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp.
Order of St. Sava, 1st Degree
Nemanja Medal, 2nd Degree, State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
Member, Central Church Council (25 years)
Vice President, Diocesan Council, Diocese of Western American (12 years)
President, Parish Council, Holy Trinity Church, Moraga, California (5 years)
Executive Vice President, Serbian Unity Congress (10 years)
San Francisco, California

Ljubiša M. Miličić
Member, Central Church Council
Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central and South America
Chicago, Illinois

Michael Pravica, Ph.D., Professor of Physics
University of Nevada Las Vegas,
Las Vegas, Nevada

Zoran Djordjevic, Ph.D.
Software Architect and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science
Harvard University, Extension School
Boston, Massachusetts

Martina Hone, Esq. Attorney
Juris Doctor, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
Bachelor of Arts, University of Chicago
Former Associate Undersecretary, US Department of Commerce
Chicago, Illinois

Dushica Protic, Esq.
Attorney, Cornell University BA, Fordham Law School. JD.
Former Chief Counsel Regulation, American Stock Exchange and
Senior Counsel New York Stock Exchange
Board Member, Studenica Foundation
Past Executive Board Member Serbian Unity Congress
Founder Serbian American Professional Networking LinkedIn (6500 members)
Parishioner/Steward Serbian Orthodox Cathedral St Sava (since 1968)
New York, New York

David Erne, Esq.
Corporate Attorney
Juris Doctor, Harvard University
Current Board Member of Five Fortune 500 corporations
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Edita Krunic
President, Select International Tours and Cruises
Former Board Member, Serbian Unity Congress
Flemington, New Jersey

Aleksandar Djuricic
President, Serbian American Leadership Conference
Juris Doctor, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, DePaul University
Member, St. John the Baptist Bellwood
Indianapolis, Indianа

Anne Erne, Philanthropist
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alhambra, California

Jasmina Theodore Boulanger
Juris Doctor and Master of Science, Economics
Order of St. Sava, 2d degree
Former President, Serbian Unity Congress
Former First Vice President of Diocesan Council, Diocese of Western America
Parishioner, St. Steven’s Cathedral
Board of Directors, International Orthodox Christian Charities
Former President, Cotton Point Advisors, LLC
Former Vice President, Conexant Systems, Inc.

Luka Erceg, Esq.
J.D., LL.M., M.B.A., C.I.R.A.
Attorney and counselor-at-law (Texas Bar no. 24040868)
San Diego, California

Nikola Lonchar
President / Founder
Tesla Science Foundation USA
http://teslasciencefoundation.org/

Lazar Supic, Ph.D.
Berkeley, California

Miroslav Popovic, Ph.D.
Berkeley, California

Alex Machaskee
Retired Publisher, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Plain Dealer, Ohio’s largest newspaper
Former Chairman of the Board of United Way Services and Lifetime Director of United Way
Chairman International Orthodox Christian Charities
Honorary Consul for the Republic of Serbia
Recipient of numerous awards, including
The Associated Press Special Recognition Award for exemplary service in print journalism;
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Beachwood, Ohio
http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/alex-machaskee-2010

Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic
National Award Winning Teacher by the Smithsonian Institute, Apple Computer,
University of Pittsburgh, Westinghouse, NECC
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

Nenad Vukicevic
Vice President, Intrepid Technology, Inc.
Founder, Blago Fund, a US nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of Serbian treasures (monasteries, frescoеs)
Half Moon Bay, California

Radmilo Bozinovic, Ph.D. Mathematics
Entrepreneur
San Jose, California

Vojin Joksimovich, Ph.D Nuclear Engineering,
Former President Serbian Unity Congress,
Author of three books on Yugoslav Wars, over 100 articles in foreign affairs

Djordje Popovic, Ph.D., University of Southern California
R&D Manager, Vyaire Medical (ex CareFusion)
Founder and CEO, Serbian American Foundation for Kosovo
San Diego, California

David Vuich, Chairman of the Board
xCube International Corporation
Official spokesman of NASA and the Apollo 11 Program
Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandra Brkic Griffin
Policy, Change Management and Communication Strategist
Former Aide to Rep. Helen Delich Bentley
Alexandria, Virginia

Mirjana Misic, Attorney
Co-founder of the American Serbian Women’s Caucus
This organization from the first day helped work of the Criminal Court in Hague
San Francisco, California

Prof. Branislav Radeljic, PhD, SFHEA
Visiting Professor of European Politics
Faculty of Social Sciences
Antonio de Nebrija University
Campus Madrid-Princesa, Madrid

Zorka Vukmirovic, Ph.D., Retired Research Professor
Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade
Belgrade, Serbia

Prof. Aleksandra Smiljanic, Ph.D.
University of Belgrade, School of Electrical Engineering
Former Minister for Telecommunications in the Republic of Serbia
Belgrade, Serbia

Prof. Aleksandar Lipkovski, Ph.D.
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mathematics
Former President of the Association of Mathematicians of Serbia
Belgrade, Serbia
http://www.matf.bg.ac.rs/eng/

Prof. Ivan Dojcinovic, Ph.D.
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physics
President of the Association of Physicist of Serbia
Belgrade, Serbia
http://www.ff.bg.ac.rs/Engleski/index_eng.html

Ruzica Nikolic, Ph.D. Physical Chemistry
Scientific Advisor Emeritus
Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences
Belgrade, Serbia

Miroslav Antic, Retired Nuclear Operator
Belgrade, Serbia

Srboljub Stanković, Ph.D.
Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences
Belgrade, Serbia

Dragana Nikolic, Ph.D.
Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences
Belgrade, Serbia

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