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.

HBCU badge graphic
Fulbright Visiting Scholar Mahesh Kumar Joshi at North Carolina A&T State University
Fulbright U.S. Student Lyndsie Whitehead from Howard University
Training for Fulbright Program Advisers from HBCUs, held at Spelman College

2024 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders Announcement


On September 10, 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 2023-24 academic year.

The HBCU Institutional Leader status recognizes engagement with, and promotion of, the Fulbright Program. The HBCU Institutional Leader status recognizes HBCUs that both host international faculty and graduate students, and also send recent graduates, graduate students, faculty, and administrators overseas to study, teach, conduct research, or participate in seminars abroad through Fulbright.

Congratulations to the 2024 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders

Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), announces the 2024 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders, commending their noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program. This initiative is part of the U.S. State Department’s long-standing commitment to build diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within the Bureau’s exchange programs overall.


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 A&T State University
U.S. Student to The United Kingdom, 2013-2014

HBCUs Form Global Connections Through Fulbright: Past and Present

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 bolsters institutional internationalization strategies and supports 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.

Fulbright encourages HBCU participation in international exchange through resources, knowledge, and further opportunities. In 2019, Fulbright established the HBCU Institutional Leaders Initiative to recognize and commend the strong partnership between the Fulbright Program and HBCUs. In May 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the leadership of the four HBCUs of the Atlanta University Center Consortium and committed to expanding engagement with all HBCUs for all Department of State academic exchange programs. In fulfillment of that commitment,  the Fulbright Program convened an adviser training in February 2024 welcoming 35 representatives from HBCUs. Participants learned more about the role of the FPA in recruiting and advising their students and alums, and discussed how to foster a Fulbright culture on campus.

Fulbright HBCU Institutional Highlights

 

The Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF) and HBCUs: Short-Term Engagements, Long-Term Benefits

The Fulbright OLF brings international scholars, already in the United States, to different campuses for two-to-five day visits with events such as guest lectures, student mentoring, film festivals, and even state fairs.

Group of people standing side by side
FLTAs Share Global Languages and Cultures in HBCU Classrooms and Communities

Fulbright FLTAs teach the significance of global holiday celebrations to their students and learn HBCU cultural traditions in return

FLTA and student celebrating Eid
Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence Develop Innovative Courses and Relationships Beyond Campus

HBCUs that invite foreign scholars to teach on campus for one or two semesters benefit from the internationalization of their curriculum and opportunities for new study abroad and virtual exchange programs.

Group of students and professor sitting together on steps

Fulbright HBCU Alumni Highlights

Karl Jackson

Virginia State University
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Ghana
See Dr. Jackson's story

Keshia Abraham

Spelman College and Florida Memorial College
Fulbright U.S. Student to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago; Fulbright U.S. Scholar to India
See Dr. Abraham's Story

Fulbright Resources for HBCUs

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

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program has announced a new group seminar designed for higher education administrators from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to build connections with institutions and peers in France and Senegal. The 2025 Fulbright HBCU International Education Administrators (IEA) Seminar will consist of briefings, campus visits, networking and cultural activities, and meetings with French and Senegalese higher education professionals and government officials.

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.

Engage with Social Media to check out more Fulbright HBCU features on FacebookTwitterInstagram 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.

HBCU Feature Articles

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.

HBCU 2023 Institutional Leader badge
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2022-23 academic year
HBCU 2022 Institutional Leader badge
2022 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2021-22 academic years
HBCU 2019-2020 Institutional Leader badge
2021 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2019-20 academic years
HBCU 2018-2019 Institutional Leader badge
The inaugural Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders recognized engagement with Fulbright during the 2018-19 academic years