Fulbrighters and MacArthur Fellowships

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awards MacArthur Fellowships, popularly known as “genius grants,” which are regarded as one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for intellectual and artistic achievement. In 1981, the MacArthur Fellows Program was created with the intent to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional paths through unrestricted fellowships.  As with the Fulbright Program, MacArthur Fellows are selected for both their demonstrated achievements and for their potential for future impact on their fields and communities.


80 Fulbright Alumni have been awarded MacArthur Fellowships


The Fulbright Program salutes its alumni – the artists, scientists, writers, teachers, journalists, and others – who have been awarded MacArthur Fellowships, as they continue to further Fulbright’s mission by inspiring creativity, advancing knowledge across communities, and making a positive impact on their communities and the world.
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Linsey Marr

Environmental Engineer, Air Quality and Virus Transmission Expert
2017 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Taiwan

2023 MacArthur Fellow

Amber Wutich

Anthropologist, Water Insecurity and Global Health Expert
2003 Fulbright U.S. Student to Bolivia

2023 MacArthur Fellow

Martha Gonzalez

Musician, Scholar, and Artist/Activist
2007 Fulbright U.S. Student to Mexico

2022 MacArthur Fellow

Monica Kim

Historian
2007 Fulbright U.S. Student to South Korea

2022 MacArthur Fellow

Fulbrighters and MacArthur Fellowships

Linsey Marr

Environmental Engineer, Air Quality and Virus Transmission Expert
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Taiwan, 2017

2023 MacArthur Fellow
Amber Wutich

Anthropologist, Water Insecurity and Global Health Expert
Fulbright U.S. Student to Bolivia, 2003

2023 MacArthur Fellow
Martha Gonzalez

Musician, Scholar, and Artist/Activist
Fulbright U.S. Student to Mexico, 2007

2022 MacArthur Fellow
Monica Kim

Historian
Fulbright U.S. Student to South Korea, 2007

2022 MacArthur Fellow
Daniel Alarcón

Writer and Radio Producer
Fulbright U.S. Student to Peru, 2010

2021 MacArthur Fellow
Andrea Dutton

Geochemist and Paleoclimatologist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to New Zealand, 2020

2019 MacArthur Fellow
Saidiya Hartman

Literary Scholar and Cultural Historian
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Ghana, 1997

2019 MacArthur Fellow
Stacy Jupiter

Marine Scientist
Fulbright U.S. Student to Australia, 2002

2019 MacArthur Fellow
Becca Heller

Human Rights Lawyer
Fulbright U.S. Student to Malawi, 2005

2018 MacArthur Fellow
Derek Peterson

Historian
Fulbright U.S. Student to Kenya, 199

2017 MacArthur Fellow
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Playwright
Fulbright U.S. Student to Germany, 2009

2016 MacArthur Fellow
Benjamin Lerner

Writer
Fulbright U.S. Student to Spain, 2003

2015 MacArthur Fellow
Pamela Long

Historian of Science and Technology
Fulbright U.S. Student to Italy, 1979

2014 MacArthur Fellow
Michal Lipson

Optical Physicist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Brazil, 2007

2010 MacArthur Fellow
Carol Padden

Sign Language Linguist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to New Zealand, 2000

2010 MacArthur Fellow
Timothy Barretts

Papermaker
Fulbright U.S. Student to Japan, 1975

2009 MacArthur Fellow
Richard Prum

Ornithologist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Brazil, 2001

2009 MacArthur Fellow
John Ochsendorf

Structural Engineer / Architectural Preservationist
Fulbright U.S. Student to Spain, 2000

2008 MacArthur Fellow
Ruth Defries

Environmental Geographer
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to India, 2006

2007 MacArthur Fellow
Lisa Curran

Tropical Forester
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Brazil, 2005

2006 MacArthur Fellow
Terence Tao

Mathematician
Fulbright Student from Australia to United States, 1992

2006 MacArthur Fellow
Todd Martinez

Theoretical Chemist
Fulbright U.S. Student to Israel, 1994

2005 MacArthur Fellow
Fazal Sheikh

Photographer
Fulbright U.S. Student to Kenya, 1992

2005 MacArthur Fellow
Sarah Kagan

Gerontological Nurse
Fulbright U.S. Specialist to Armenia, 2010

2003 MacArthur Fellow
Laura Otis

Literary Scholar and Historian of Science
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Germany, 2010

2000 MacArthur Fellow
Jillian Banfield

Geologist
Fulbright Student from Australia to United States, 1988

1999 MacArthur Fellow
Bernadette Brooten

Historian of Religion
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Norway, 1998

1998 MacArthur Fellow
Donald Mitchell

Cultural Geographer
Fulbright U.S. Seminar Programs to Chile, 2013

1998 MacArthur Fellow
Lee Breuer

Playwright and Theater Director
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Greece, 2004

1997 MacArthur Fellow
Richard Howard

Poet, Translator, and Literary Critic
Fulbright U.S. Student to France, 1966

1996 MacArthur Fellow
Heidi Hartmann

Economist
Fulbright U.S. Specialist to New Zealand, 2004

1994 MacArthur Fellow
Maria Crawford

Geologist and Petrologist
Fulbright U.S. Student to Norway, 1960

1993 MacArthur Fellow
Nora England

Anthropological Linguist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Guatemala, 1989

1993 MacArthur Fellow
Thom Gunn

Poet and Literary Critic
Fulbright Student from UK to United States, 1955

1993 MacArthur Fellow
Thomas Scanlon

Philosopher
Fulbright U.S. Student to United Kingdom, 1962

1993 MacArthur Fellow
Ellen Silbergeld

Biologist and Environmental Health Scientist
Fulbright U.S. Student to United Kingdom, 1967

1993 MacArthur Fellow
Wendy Ewald

Photographer
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Colombia, 1982

1992 MacArthur Fellow
Norman Manea

Writer
Fulbright Scholar from Romania to United States, 1988

1992 MacArthur Fellow
Arnold Rampersad

Biographer and Literary Critic
Fulbright U.S. Student from Trinidad and Tobago to United States, 1969

1991 MacArthur Fellow
Gunther Schuller

Composer, Conductor, and Jazz Historian
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to China, 1971

1991 MacArthur Fellow
John Eaton

Composer
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Italy, 1987

1990 MacArthur Fellow
Patricia Hampl

Writer
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Czech Republic, 1995

1990 MacArthur Fellow
Rebecca Scott

Historian
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to France, 1994

1990 MacArthur Fellow
Ruth Behar

Cultural Anthropologist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Argentina, 2006

1988 MacArthur Fellow
Philip Devries

Insect Biologist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Brazil, 2015

1988 MacArthur Fellow
Cornell Fleischer

Historian
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Turkey, 1986

1988 MacArthur Fellow
Naomi Pierce

Biologist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Australia, 1983

1988 MacArthur Fellow
Stephen Pyne

Environmental Historian
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Sweden, 1991

1988 MacArthur Fellow
Anna Roosevelt

Archaeologist
Fulbright U.S. Specialist to Brazil, 2007

1988 MacArthur Fellow
Irving Howe

Literary and Social Critic
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Japan, 1982

1987 MacArthur Fellow
Mark Strand

Poet and Writer
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Brazil, 1965

1987 MacArthur Fellow
Nancy Farriss

Historian
Fulbright U.S. Student to Spain, 1961

1986 MacArthur Fellow
David Keightley

Historian and Sinologist
Fulbright U.S. Student to France, 1953

1986 MacArthur Fellow
John Ashbery

Poet
Fulbright U.S. Student to France, 1956

1985 MacArthur Fellow
John Benton

Medieval Historian
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to France, 1971

1985 MacArthur Fellow
Harold Bloom

Literary Critic
Fulbright U.S. Student to United Kingdom, 1954

1985 MacArthur Fellow
William Cronon

Environmental Historian
Fulbright U.S. Specialist to Iceland, 2000

1985 MacArthur Fellow
Thomas Palaima

Classicist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Austria, 1993, and Spain, 2007, and Fulbright U.S. Student to Greece, 1979

1985 MacArthur Fellow
Robert Hass

Poet, Critic, and Translator
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to United Kingdom, 1976

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Bill Irwin

Writer and Performance Artist
Fulbright U.S. Student to United Kingdom, 1987

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Fritz John

Mathematician
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Germany, 1955

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Galway Kinnell

Poet
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Iran, 1959

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Heather Lechtman

Materials Scientist and Archaeologist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Chile, 1987

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Michael Lerner

Public Health Leader
Fulbright U.S. Student to Brazil, 1965

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Andrew Lewis

Medieval Historian
Fulbright U.S. Student to France, 1969

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Michael Piore

Economist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Italy, 1978

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Charles Simic

Poet, Translator, and Essayist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Yugoslavia, 1982

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Elliot Sperling

Tibetan Studies Scholar
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to India, 1994

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Amos Tversky

Cognitive Psychologist
Fulbright Student from Israel to United States, 1961

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Bret Wallach

Geographer
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Sri Lanka, 2005

1984 MacArthur Fellow
Philip Curtin

Historian of Africa
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad/Tobago, 1986

1983 MacArthur Fellow
Ramon Gutierrez

Historian
Fulbright U.S. Student to Peru, 1973

1983 MacArthur Fellow
Brad Leithauser

Poet and Writer
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Iceland, 1988

1983 MacArthur Fellow
Lawrence Levine

Historian
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Australia, 1988

1983 MacArthur Fellow
Robert Merton

Historian and Sociologist of Science
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Japan, 1967

1983 MacArthur Fellow
Attipat Ramanujan

Poet, Translator, and Literary Scholar
Fulbright Student from India to United States, 1961

1983 MacArthur Fellow
Ada Louise Huxtable

Architectural Critic and Historian
Fulbright U.S. Student to Italy, 1952

1981 MacArthur Fellow
David Pingree

Historian of Science
Fulbright U.S. Student to Italy, 1954

1981 MacArthur Fellow
Richard Rorty

Philosopher
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Peru, 1986

1981 MacArthur Fellow
Lawrence Rosen

Attorney and Anthropologist
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Tunisia, 1991

1981 MacArthur Fellow
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