Over the course of her 20-plus year career as a journalist and diplomat, Bay Fang has never wavered in her belief in the importance of a free and independent press as an empowering force. Her experiences on the ground, including her 1995 Fulbright U.S. Student award to Hong Kong researching Asia-Pacific economic cooperation (APEC), positioned her on the front lines of the fight to protect free and independent media.
Dr. Harrison Schmitt was the first scientist on a U.S. spaceflight and is one of only 12 people to set foot on the moon. As part of the Apollo 17 crew, Dr. Schmitt landed in the Moon’s Valley of Taurus-Littrow on December 11, 1972, and collected more than 240 pounds of lunar rock samples to bring back to Earth. His unique career as an astronaut, geologist, and U.S. senator was built upon the cornerstone of his Fulbright experience.
Dr. Zahi Hawass is a witness to history. A renowned archaeologist, Egyptian government official, and public intellectual, Dr. Hawass received his Ph.D. in Egyptology in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also earned a master’s degree as a Fulbrighter, which Dr. Hawass believes “changed [his] life,” making him a good Egyptologist with a “vision for the future.”
Hiba Dlewati was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up in Damascus, Syria. After seeing the devastating impact of war, Dlewati decided to focus on sharing the personal stories of those affected by political upheaval. She has covered the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis from 10 countries as a multimedia journalist and producer.
Dr. John D. Sherwood has authored six books on military and naval history during his nearly 25 years as a civilian historian, and his insights directly support naval operations and strategy development. A 2019 Fulbright-Schuman Program award to Germany and Greece gave him a front-row seat to humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
Dr. Bowser is a wildlife ecologist and associate professor at Colorado State University’s Natural Resource Ecology Lab. She believes in the power of citizen scientists and has spent her career demonstrating that everyone can be a scientist.
Dr. Rutherford, a survivor of a landmine attack, co-founded the Landmine Survivors Network and was named to Action on Armed Violence’s “Top 100: The Most Influential People in Armed Violence Reduction” for his remarkable career. He also helped lead the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which won The Nobel Peace Prize 1997.
Maaza Mengiste — author of “The Shadow King,” which was named Best Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Booker Prize — writes about war, violence, and migration from the perspective of individuals often forgotten by the historical record.
Lucien Bourjeily is a writer, director, producer, and actor whose films have been critically acclaimed worldwide. His skill at bringing stories to life on stage and screen drives him to find innovative ways to create immersive experiences for his audiences.
Dr. Kristina Jacobsen is a multitalented cultural anthropologist and singer-songwriter who explores cultural identity through music. She is best known for her work with the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, where she spent two-and-a-half years singing and playing steel guitar with country-western bands.