Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders

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Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders

ECA established the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders Initiative in 2019 to recognize and commend the strong partnership between the Fulbright Program and HBCUs. This initiative is part of the U.S. State Department’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within the Bureau’s exchange programs overall.

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2023 Leaders Announced

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Institutional Highlights

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Resources for HBCUs

Professor lecturing to student at front of classroom at Howard University

Dr. Gary L. Harris welcomes visiting Fulbright Scholars to Howard University

FLTAs Donather Magabe and Khaoula Bout bike riding at Bennett College

Fulbright U.S. Student Ashleigh Brown-Grier, Ph.D., Howard University

2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders Announced

On September 18, the U.S. Department of State announced 19 HBCUs as “Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders” in recognition of their noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program during the 2022-23 academic year.

ECA established the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders Initiative in 2019 to recognize and commend the strong partnership between the Fulbright Program and HBCUs. This initiative is part of the U.S. State Department’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within the Bureau’s exchange programs overall.

With a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of its work, the Fulbright Program recruits and supports diverse student and scholar applicants and institutions, taking concerted steps to ensure that participants from all backgrounds and all types of institutions are represented in the Program and have successful and rewarding experiences before, during, and after their exchange.

See List

			Alcorn State University 

			Mississippi		

			Bennett College 

			North Carolina		

			Bluefield State University 

			West Virginia		

			Central State University 

			Ohio		

			Delaware State University 

			Delaware		

			Fayetteville State University 

			North Carolina		

			Florida A&M University 

			Florida		

			Howard University 

			Washington, D.C.		

			Jackson State University 

			Mississippi		

			Jarvis Christian University 

			Texas		

			The LeMoyne-Owen College 

			Tennessee		

			Lincoln University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

			Pennsylvania		

			Mississippi Valley State University 

			Mississippi		

			Morgan State University 

			Maryland		

			North Carolina Central University 

			North Carolina		

			Spelman College 

			Georgia		

			Texas Southern University 

			Texas		

			Tuskegee University 

			Alabama		

			Virginia State University 

			Virginia

Congratulations to the 2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders

Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield congratulates the HBCU Institutional Leaders and emphasizes diversity as one of America’s greatest strengths.

My Fulbright experience had a profound effect on me and the way I approach research. It gave me a more global perspective and appreciation of diversity across cultures and people.”

Emmanuel Johnson

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

U.S. Student to The United Kingdom, 2013-2014

HBCUs Form Global Connections Through Fulbright

The HBCU Institutional Leader status recognizes engagement with and promotion of the Fulbright Program. Recognized HBCUs host Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants and Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence, who teach in HBCU classrooms, and other international Fulbright Students and Scholars; have U.S. students, faculty, and staff carry out Fulbright awards to study, teach, or conduct research abroad; and promote Fulbright on campus.

Fulbright is highlighting students and scholars from Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders through stories and videos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, and in a collaboration with Watch the Yard, a platform for Black Greek life created by Fulbright alumnus Jonathan Rabb.

A History of Engaging with HBCUs Since the Fulbright Program was Founded

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has given over 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals from all backgrounds and diverse institutions the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges.

HBCUs have been deeply engaged in the Fulbright Program since its founding. Fisk University President Dr. Charles S. Johnson was on the inaugural Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in the 1940s and the first Fulbright cohort included four participants affiliated with HBCUs. This tradition continues today.

Fulbright visiting students and scholars contribute to HBCUs’ international networks and create long-term collaborations. Engagement with Fulbright can bolster institutional internationalization strategies and support curriculum needs when Fulbrighters and program alumni share their expertise, establish international research partnerships, and build international networks.

Faculty members who have Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards return from their grant experiences and enrich their campus culture, students and curriculum, and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides recent alumni and graduate students with opportunities to gain valuable international perspectives and experiences.

Voices From Our Community

Partnering with Fulbright helps advance our strategic goals of student success, academic prominence, and research excellence. I am particularly excited by our Fulbright U.S. Scholars who return from their grant experiences and enrich our campus culture, students, and curriculum, which only enhances the JSU brand. Participating in the Fulbright program supports our professors’ research, teaching, and career development. These benefits contribute to their growth as faculty members, as well as to Jackson State’s academic and globalization goals.”

Elayne Hayes-Anthony, Ph.D. President, Jackson State University

We are dedicated to ensuring that our faculty and students can pursue international collaboration and enrichment experiences which they bring back to campus for the benefit of our whole community. This is yet another layer of academic excellence that helps prepare our students for global citizenship, and we are thrilled to contribute to global conversations this way.”

Darrell T. Allison J.D., Chancellor, Fayetteville State University

I am the person that Fulbright made me—a continuous learner and striver, an avid proselytizer for international education, an advocate of the broadest possible learning experiences, and a believer in the power of human understanding. Fulbright lifted me out of a narrow world where little seemed possible, made me lift my eyes to the horizon, and enabled me to embrace what might be possible if only I reached out.”

Ruth Simmons, Ph.D. President Emerita of Prairie View A&M University, 1967 Fulbright U.S. Student to France

Fulbright HBCU Institutional Highlights

Faculty and Administrators at HBCUs take part in U.S. Scholar Awards and Visiting Scholar Awards to support research, globalize campuses, and internationalize curriculum.

Delaware State University’s Fulbright Scholar alumni

Bennett College: Welcoming the World with Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants. The college hosts two FLTAs annually as part of its commitment to providing international language and cultural education.

Fulbright HBCU Alumni Highlights

Kendra L. Mitchell

Florida A&M University

2016 Fulbright English Language Teaching Assistant to South Africa

See Kendra's story

Hunter Mack

Virginia State University

2021 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Czech Republic

See Hunter's story

Fulbright Resources for HBCUs

The Fulbright Program has resources to support HBCUs engagement, including:

Fulbright HBCU Virtual Workshops for HBCU faculty and administrators. View the recordings from the 2022 and 2023 HBCU workshops:

Webinars for Fulbright U.S. Student and Fulbright U.S. Scholar applicants.

Virtual Office Hours hosted by Fulbright Staff for Fulbright Program Advisers and Fulbright Scholar Liaisons.

On many campuses, Fulbright Program Advisers support U.S. student applicants and Fulbright Scholar Liaisons, to promote faculty participation. Fulbright offers extensive training and resources for these primary points of contact, including regional and national seminars, webinars, and virtual office hours. If your institution does not have these resources, please contact [email protected] for Fulbright Program Advisers and [email protected] for Fulbright Scholar Liaisons.

Explore Fulbright opportunities that are available for students, faculty members and administrators, and find the right Fulbright for you.

Download the Fulbright HBCU Overview Flier

Engage with Social Media to check out more Fulbright HBCU features on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Use #Fulbright to share your own memories, experiences, and achievements as an HBCU Fulbrighter. We accept content at [email protected] or via an online form.

Previous Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs celebrates all institutions recognized since the launch of the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders initiative in 2019.

2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2022-23 academic year

2022 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2021-22 academic years

2021 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2019-20 academic years

The inaugural Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2018-19 academic years

Abel Vera (Center)

Peru to U.S., 2017

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We encourage all program alumni, partners, and friends to engage with Fulbright and their communities.

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Tell us about your Fulbright experience, or how a Fulbrighter has impacted your life.

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This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government.