The partnership between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Fulbright dates back to the founding of the program. Learn more.
Join us on November 6 for a virtual workshop for HBCU faculty and administrators. Learn more.
Fulbright offers extensive training and resources for students, faculty, and advisers. Learn more.
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.
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.
"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
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.
“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
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.
“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
Faculty and Administrators at HBCUs take part in U.S. Scholar Awards and Visiting Scholar Awards to support research, globalize campuses, and internationalize curriculum. Read about Scholars at Jackson State University, Tuskegee University, and Delaware State University.
Kendra L. Mitchell, Florida A&M University
2016 Fulbright English Language Teaching Assistant to South Africa
Hunter Mack, Virginia State University
2021 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Czech Republic
On November 6, the U.S. Department of State will host a virtual workshop which will feature representatives from Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders who will share how they engage with all of Fulbright’s suite of programs to support students and faculty, host international Fulbrighters, and increase their campus’ global network. This event is open to the public and is specifically designed for faculty, staff, and stakeholders at HBCUs. Learn more and register for the event.
“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
Fulbright U.S. Student to The United Kingdom, 2013-2014
The Fulbright Program has resources to support HBCUs engagement, including:
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 year
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
Interested in applying to the Fulbright Program? Learn more about the opportunities available for U.S. citizens, non-U.S. citizens, and U.S. higher education institutions.
We encourage all program alumni, partners, and friends to engage with Fulbright and their communities.
