Fulbright Program

FIU Earns “Top Producer of Fulbright Scholars” in 2024 Yet Again

February 13, 2024 - Building on the success from previous years, FIU’s 2023-2024 six Fulbright Scholars and one Fulbright Global Scholar earn the university once again the U.S. Department of State’s recognition as Top Producer. In a congratulatory letter to President Kenneth Jessell, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken praises these scholars as “changemakers” and FIU for “fostering global cooperation on issues of shared importance”.

FIU’s Fulbright Scholars are Abdelhamid Hamid, Mathematics (Algeria); Nasar Ahmed, Epidemiology (Bangladesh); Michael Eckroth, Jazz Music (Brazil); Andrea Fanta, Modern Languages (Colombia); Ligia Collado-Vides, Marine Biology (Portugal); and Javier Mendoza, Orchestral Studies (Spain). Their projects aim at innovating curriculum, mentoring graduate students, collecting data and scientific samples for comparative studies, researching migratory patterns, curating and recording jazz performances, and unearthing 18th century music.

Fulbright Global Scholar Allison Matulli, Criminology and Criminal Justice, meanwhile, has begun her study in three countries in Baranquilla, Colombia (to be followed by Italy and Trinidad and Tobago), which she will continue until 2025. She researches and teaches on the freedoms and rights of children through the lens of diverse cultures, ethnicities and races in the host countries.

Two additional awards were offered but one scholar had to decline the award for professional reasons and the other left FIU.

FIU was already recognized as a Top Producer of Fulbright Scholars in 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2022. This badge of honor is awarded to institutions with 6 or more selectees in a year.  “I am thrilled that our faculty continue to successfully compete for these prestigious, high-value awards,” says Birgitta Rausch-Montoto, Director of FIU Global and Fulbright Program Campus Liaison. “They are true global champions who collaborate with diverse others to advance academic programs and scientific knowledge, generate new artistic content and nurture students toward learning and career success.”

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program. Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United State and the people of other countries.  

In recognition of FIU's extensive partnership in promoting and facilitating Fulbright exchanges, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recognizes FIU as one of a small select group of Hispanic Serving Institution Leaders

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Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and offers over 400 awards for teaching, research or to carry out a professional project in 135 countries. Opportunities are available for faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright offers flexible awards including multi-country opportunities.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program online program overview,  catalog of awards, the Fulbright scholar directory and upcoming and archived webinars offer a good starting point for faculty and international education administrators to gain insights into the many exciting opportunities for engagement across the world.

Since the program is highly competitive, we recommend that you reach out to one of FIU's Fulbright Program Campus Liaisons (see below) for additional guidance. 

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Second from the left: Dr. Hilary Jones, FIU Fulbright Scholar to Senegal, 2019-2020   

Fulbright Specialist Program

The Fulbright Specialist Program is a unique opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in two- to six-weeks, project-based exchanges at host institutions in 160 countries across the globe. It is designed to bring specialized expertise to the host institution abroad. 

The Fulbright Specialist Program online program overview and the eligibility and award description offer a good starting point for interested faculty and senior administrators. 

Since the program is competitive, we recommend that you reach out to one of FIU's Fulbright Program Campus Liaisons (see below) for additional guidance.

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On the left: Rob Guerrette, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, with the National Police Commissioner of Iceland’s Center for Police Training and Professional Development

 

Hosting a visiting (non-U.S.) Fulbright Scholar

Under the Visiting Fulbright Scholar Program, non-U.S. scholars apply in their home country for a Fulbright grant to carry out advanced research or lecturing at U.S. institutions. In general, it's best to ensure that the hosting institution in the U.S. has designated a faculty host and confirmed it's ability to provide a productive setting (a designated office space, access to institutional resources etc.) for a semester or two. 

FIU faculty who are interested in hosting a visiting Fulbright scholar, should first reach out to FIU's Fulbright Program Campus Liaisons (see below) to discuss what the expectations are for hosting visiting Fulbrighter. 

A short-term hosting opportunity offers the Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF) program. The OLF program sponsors visiting scholars who are already at a U.S. institution to travel within the U.S. and give a guest lecture at another institution, generally over 2-3 days.

First from the right: Dr. Amit Ranjan, Scholar-in-Residence from India 2020-2021 celebrating FIU Language Day with Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants and FIU students.      

 

FIU Fulbright Alumni

FIU's count of Fulbright alumni continues to grow annually. A comprehensive list of Fulbright U.S. Scholars can be found here

Once a Fulbrighter, always a Fulbrighter! These articles highlight some of the most recent Fulbright grantees and their inspirational work abroad as well as on our campus. 

FIU's most active program alumnus is Dr. Emmanuel Roussakis, Professor Emeritus of Finance, who has been abroad as a Fulbright Scholar in Romania and as a Fulbright Specialist in Russia, Indonesia, Morocco, Kuwait and Tunis between the years 2010 and 2020. 

Meet FIU's Fulbright Program Champion: Iqbal Akthar, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and International Relations, who not only traveled to Pakistan to collaborate with faculty and mentor students there, he also hosted two Fulbright Scholars in Residence and four Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants at FIU. 

They say "there is a Fulbright for everyone." Learn about FIU Fulbright Specialist awardees and the Fulbright International Education Administrator awardee who work on short-term projects with or visit partner institutions to advance the field of international eduation. 

 

"Fulbright has allowed me to supercharge my global citizenship. The relationships you form and contributions you make are truly life changing. Especially in these times of a global crisis, programs like these remind us that we are all connected and solutions are always global. While my time in Brazil was cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Fulbright has been amazing at giving us support along the way, and online collaboration has allowed me to keep working with my colleagues in Brazil."

Associate Professor Carolin Lusby, Fulbright Scholar to Brazil in 2020-2021

Fulbright Program Campus Liaisons

Our Fulbright Program Campus Liaisons are pleased to support faculty and staff with applying for a grant or hosting a visiting (non-U.S.) Fulbright scholar at FIU.

assefa-melesse1.jpg Assefa Melesse
 Fulbright Program Campus Liaison
 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Ethiopia (2011-12)
 Professor, Department of Earth & Environment
 melessea@fiu.edu
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 Birgitta "Gitta" Rausch-Montoto
 Fulbright Program Campus Liaison
 Director of Global Strategy & Faculty Success, FIU Global
 gmontoto@fiu.edu