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Featured 75th Anniversary News & Events
Keep up throughout 2021 as we celebrate 75 years of the Fulbright Program’s impact, history and alumni. Browse recaps of past events, as well as other articles here.
Impact
Actions, Insights, and Opportunities
Since its inception in 1946, over 400,000 people from all backgrounds—recent graduates, teachers, scientists and researchers, artists, and more—have participated in the Fulbright Program to help them better understand and advance ideas in the world we share.
What impact will you make?
Fulbright helps participants make meaningful contributions toward mutual understanding.
By serving as cultural ambassadors, Fulbrighters experience growth as educators, global citizens, and humans.
Fulbright expands horizons.
“[Fulbright] encouraged me to….continue bridging differences through conversation.”
Fulbrighters gain lifelong connections with the communities and cultures of their host country.
“During my time in the United States, I grew beyond myself. Not only professionally, but especially on a personal level.”
“That’s what Fulbright is all about, that’s where the true power of the program rests: its ability to promote and foster mutual understanding and appreciation.”
History
Connecting a Complex and Changing World
In 1946, in the aftermath of World War II, President Harry S. Truman signed legislation into law to establish the Fulbright Program, an international academic exchange program with an ambitious goal—to increase mutual understanding, and support friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
The Fulbright Program now operates in 160 countries and has provided over 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and in all fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges. This timeline represents some of the significant milestones in the Fulbright Program’s history. Check back to see more entries, which will be posted throughout 2021.
John Hope Franklin Begins Fulbright Journey
Franklin, a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, author, historian and Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Chair, went on his first Fulbright to the U.K. in 1954.
Passage of Fulbright-Hays Act
President John F. Kennedy signed the Fulbright-Hays Act, re-authorizing the Fulbright Program. The Act also enabled foreign governments to contribute funding to Fulbright programming.
Future Nobel Laureate Starts Fulbright
Muhammad Yunus arrived in the U.S. from Bangladesh to study economics. The professor, social entrepreneur, and founder of Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace Prize (2006) for microlending to reduce poverty.
Fulbright 40th Anniversary
Distinguished Lecturer Grants Program created to celebrate Fulbright’s anniversary. Recipients include luminaries such as poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, who traveled on her Fulbright to Ghana in 1986.
Fulbright Association Launches Prize
The Fulbright Association, the U.S. Fulbright alumni group, awarded its first Fulbright Prize for International Understanding to Nelson Mandela for his work fighting apartheid in South Africa.
Fulbright Alumni Serve in Congress
Fulbright alumni have long served in the U.S. Congress. The 110th U.S. Congress convened on January 4, 2007, with four Fulbright alumni serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Classroom Diplomacy
Teacher Exchanges expand program offerings for primary and secondary teachers in the U.S. and 70 countries; nearly 11,000 teacher alumni have brought global perspectives to classrooms around the world.
6 Fulbright Alumni Lead Their Countries
Served or were elected: Colville Norbert Young (Belize), Ashraf Ghani (Afghanistan), Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (Croatia), David Granger (Guyana), Alexander de Croo (Belgium), Francisco Sagasti (Peru)
I kept hearing that Fulbright opens doors. I’d say Fulbright actually creates doors. It forges pathways, where there seem to be only walls.
Greece to U.S., 2016
Alumni
Fulbright Alumni: Lasting Legacies
Each month of the 75th Anniversary year will feature notable Fulbrighters who have made an impact on the world. Read their stories here.
Ken Rutherford
Ken Rutherford
U.S. Scholar to Jordan, 2005
Rutherford (pictured right) said Fulbright helped to "crystalize [his] vision for the human rights for persons with disabilities."
Read His Story
Gillian Bowser
Wildlife Ecologist, Research Scientist
Specialist to Peru, 2014
Dr. Bowser empowers citizen scientists to join the fight against climate change.
Read Her Story
John Sherwood
Naval History and Heritage Command Historian
Fulbright-Schuman U.S. Scholar to Germany and Greece, 2019
Very few days pass when I am not drawing on my Fulbright-Schuman experience in some way.
Read His Story
Hiba Dlewati
Producer, Writer for Film and Television
National Geographic Storytelling Fellow to Jordan, Turkey, and Sweden, 2015
My Fulbright experience impacted me beyond my career.
Read Her StoryFulbright brings many opportunities to life through partnership. In more than 160 countries, the program works with U.S. embassies, Fulbright commissions, and partner organizations to shape a more positive vision for our communities and our world.
In the Media
Recent News
Discover Fulbright Program news and updates.
Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Alumna Named Artist-in-Residence
Mimi Onuoha, a 2014 Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellow, was named the artist-in-residence at the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab at Princeton University.
Nobel Prize Winner and Fulbright Alumnus Ei-ichi Negishi Dies at 85
Nobel-winning chemist and 1960 Fulbright Foreign Student from Japan Ei-ichi Negishi passed away at the age of 85.
Fulbright Alumna Awarded 2021 Pulitzer Prize
Megha Rajagopalan, 2010 U.S. Student to China, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting alongside her BuzzFeed News colleagues.
U.S. Embassy in Tunisia Creates Video for Fulbright’s 75th Anniversary
To celebrate the Fulbright Program’s 75th anniversary, the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia created a video highlighting their Fulbright Day event and the alumni who attended.
Fulbright Thailand Launches Video Series for Anniversary
The Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (TUSEF) launched an ongoing series featuring alumni from their various Fulbright programs.
20 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders Announced for AY 2019-2020
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized 20 institutions as “Fulbright Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Institutional Leaders” for their noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program.
Fulbright Alumna Named Director of Artistic Programs at Signature Theatre
U.S. Student alumna Iyvon Edebiri was named the Director of Artistic Programs at Signature Theatre in New York.
Alumna Maya Angelou Among Women Chosen to be on Quarter
Writer, poet, and Fulbright alumna Maya Angelou was chosen to be one of the first women to appear on a series of quarters issued by the U.S. Mint.
Behind-the-Scenes Look at Dr. Zahi Hawass’ Luxor Discovery
Egyptian media outlet Cairo Scene followed alumnus Dr. Zahi Hawass and Fulbright Egypt for this exclusive video feature.
U.S. Scholar Alumna Featured on PBS NewsHour
Janai Nelson, alumna and Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), was a guest commentator on PBS Newshour to discuss the trial and verdict of Derek Chauvin.
Fulbright-National Geographic Alumna Featured on The New Yorker Radio Hour
Destry Maria Sibley spoke about her grandmother’s story of being sent to a Mexican orphanage as a child during the Spanish Civil War.
Egyptian Fulbright Alumnus Discovers “Lost Golden City”
Egyptologist and Fulbright alumnus Dr. Zahi Hawass’ discovery “has been hailed as one of the most important archaeological finds since Tutankhamun’s tomb.”
Fulbright Association Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Participant Stories
The U.S. alumni organization of the Fulbright Program, the Fulbright Association, is sharing stories of inspirational Fulbrighters throughout 2021.
Third Fulbright Arctic Initiative Launches with Virtual Kick-Off
On March 23-24, the new cohort of Fulbright Arctic Scholars held a virtual meeting to kick off their 18-month collaborative research program.
Ex-Bristol Student Unable to Read at 13 Now Studying for PhD on Fulbright
William Carter was unable to read until the age of 13 because of his severe dyslexia and dyspraxia. He is now on a Fulbright at the University of California, Berkeley.
TCU Celebrates 75-Year Legacy with the U.S. Fulbright Program
Texas Christian University (TCU) launched a site that celebrates TCU Fulbrighters and their stories.
Fulbright Alumnus Named Editor-at-Large at Lonely Planet
Travel writer, multimedia journalist, and Fulbright alumnus Sebastian Modak was named the new Editor-at-Large for Lonely Planet.
An Advocate for the Disabled Talks About the Importance of Giving Back
Eyþór Kamban Þrastarson, a Fulbright fellow (Iceland to the U.S., 2015) and a manager of a Erasmus collaboration project that aims to empower and enable young people that are blind and visually impaired, discusses the impact Fulbright made on his life.
2020-21 Fulbright Top Producing Institutions Announced
We congratulate the 2020-21 Top Producing Institutions of Fulbright U.S. Students and Scholars, who had the most Fulbrighters in certain categories.
Rakuten Donation Enhances Fulbright Opportunities for Japanese Students
Fulbright Japan announced that Rakuten, Inc. has committed to establishing the Fulbright-Mikitani Memorial Grant to support future Japanese participants.
National Archives Signs MOU with Fulbright for Archival Science Fellowship
The National Archives and the State Department formalized a new partnership to establish the Fulbright-National Archives Heritage Science Fellowship.
Fulbright Partners with National Park Service to Strengthen Exchanges
Fulbright and the National Park Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), increasing environmental and cultural awareness worldwide.
Fulbright Program Celebrates 75th Anniversary in 2021
Read more about the Fulbright Program’s 75th anniversary celebration in DipNote, the U.S. Department of State’s official blog.
The Fulbright Program’s 2020 Year in Review
Take a look back at the program’s highlights and milestones in an unprecedented year.
The 2019-20 Fulbright-National Geographic Fellows Share their Stories
Now back from the field, the four 2019-20 Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellows share their research and photos.
2021 Events & Activities
Organizations around the world are celebrating Fulbright's 75th Anniversary.
Submit activities and events here, if you would like to be featured below.
Get Involved
We encourage all program alumni, partners, and friends to engage with Fulbright and their communities.
Egypt to U.S., 2019
