The Fulbright Program and Pulitzer Prizes

The Pulitzer Prizes have had a lasting influence on journalism, literature, music, and drama, as they have evolved and grown to encompass 22 different categories within these fields. Eighty-nine Fulbright alumni have won a total of 95 Pulitzer Prizes since their inception in 1917, with four Fulbrighters receiving more than one, including three-time winner Edward Albee. The below list of Pulitzer Prize-winning Fulbright alumni features individual winners, but Fulbrighters have also been part of newsrooms and organizations that have won group Pulitzer Prizes. The alumni listed here are excellent examples of the Fulbright Program’s commitment to fostering opportunities and excellence in all fields of study and endeavor. We are delighted to recognize the contributions these globally-minded U.S. Fulbright alumni have made to their fields and to arts and letters around the world, and we look forward to seeing more Fulbrighters join the ranks of Pulitzer Prize winners in the years ahead.
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George Walker

Composer
U.S. Student to France, 1957

Walker's Fulbright allowed him to spend two years in Paris studying composition under Nadia Boulanger

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Emily Green

Journalist
U.S. Student to the Philippines, 2006

Green started her journalism career in the Philippines on a Fulbright, reporting on human rights abuses.

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John Updike

Writer
U.S. Scholar to Ghana and Nigeria, 1973

Updike wrote his novel “The Coup” in 1978 to make sense of what he had seen in West Africa.

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Eudora Welty

Writer
U.S. Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1954

Welty’s Fulbright experience inspired her 1955 work “The Bride of the Innisfallen and Other Stories.”

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Pulitzer Prize-winning Fulbright Alumni

Megha Rajagopalan

Journalist
Fulbright U.S. Student to China, 2010

2021 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting
Greg Grandin

Professor and Author
Fulbright U.S. Student to Guatemala, 2006

2020 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction
Emily Green

Journalist
Fulbright U.S. Student to the Philippines, 2006

2020 Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting
Jeffrey C. Stewart

Professor and Author
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Italy, 2002

2019 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
David W. Blight

Professor and Author
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Germany, 1992

2019 Pulitzer Prize in History
Jack E. Davis

Professor and Author
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Jordan, 2002-2003

2018 Pulitzer Prize in History
Jake Halpern

Journalist and Author
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to India, 2011-2012

2018 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Cartooning, with Michael Sloan, freelance cartoonist
Elizabeth Kolbert

Journalist and Author
Fulbright Student to Germany, 1983

2015 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction
David Kertzer

Professor and Author
Fulbright Scholar to Italy, 1978 and 2000

2015 Pulitzer Prize in Biography or Autobiography
John Lewis Gaddis

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to Finland, 1980-81,
and Poland, 1996-97

2012 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
Stephen Greenblatt

Literary Critic and Theorist
Fulbright Student to the United Kingdom, 1964-66

2012 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction
Eric Foner

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to Russia, 1990, and Japan, 2003

2011 Pulitzer Prize in History
Robert Haas

Poet
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1976

2008 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Philip Schultz

Poet
Fulbright Scholar to Israel, 1983

2008 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Caroline Elkins

Historian and Author
Fulbright Scholar to Kenya, 1998–99

2006 Pulitzer Prize in General Non–Fiction
Edmund S. Morgan

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to Japan, 1968

2006 Pulitzer Prize (Special Awards and Citations)
David Hackett Fischer

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to New Zealand, 1994

2005 Pulitzer Prize in History
William C. Taubman

Biographer and Historian
Fulbright Student to the Soviet Union, 1965

2004 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
Daniel Grech

Journalist
Fulbright Student to Argentina, 2003

2001 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Breaking News Reporting
Herbert P. Bix

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to Japan, 1977 and 1992

2001 Pulitzer Prize in General Non–Fiction
Bruce Bissell Finley

Journalist
Fulbright Student to the United Kingdom, 1984–85

2000 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Breaking News Reporting
Mark Strand

Poet
Fulbright Student to Italy, 1960,
and Fulbright Scholar to Brazil, 1965

1999 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Edward J. Larson

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to the Netherlands, 2000

1998 Pulitzer Prize for History
Charles Wright

Poet
Fulbright Student to Italy, 1963,
and Fulbright Scholar to Italy, 1968

1998 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Will Englund

Foreign Correspondent
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1988

1998 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Investigative Reporting
George Walker

Composer
Fulbright Student to France, 1957

1996 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Edward Albee

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to the Soviet Union, 1964
1967 Pulitzer Prize in Drama
(also won 1994 and 1975 Pulitzer Prizes in Drama)

Eric Freedman

Journalist
Fulbright Scholar to Uzbekistan, 2001

1994 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Beat Reporting
Gunther Schuller

Composer and Musician
Fulbright Scholar to China, 1971

1994 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Stephen Doig

Journalist
Fulbright Scholar to Portugal, 2010,
and the Czech Republic, 2016

1993 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service
Wayne Peterson

Composer
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1953

1992 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Robert Frederick Schenkkan

Playwright and Screenwriter
Fulbright Scholar to Chile, 1969–70

1992 Pulitzer Prize in Drama
Jane Smiley

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to Iceland, 1976–77

1992 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
John Updike

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to Ghana and
Nigeria (Lincoln Lecturer), 1973
1991 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
(also won 1982 Pulitzer in Fiction)

Charles Simic

Poet
Fulbright Scholar to Yugoslavia, 1982

1990 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Allan Temko

Architecture Critic
Fulbright Scholar to France, 1952

1990 Pulitzer Prize in Criticism
Roger Reynolds

Composer
Fulbright Student to Germany, 1962

1989 Pulitzer Prize in Music
David Herbert Donald

Historian and Biographer
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1959
1988 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
(also won 1961 Pulitzer in Biography)

Rita Dove

Poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate
Fulbright Student to Germany, 1974

1987 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Peter Taylor

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1955

1987 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
Joseph Lelyveld

Executive Editor of the New York Times
Fulbright Student to Burma, 1960

1986 Pulitzer Prize in General Non–Fiction
Murray Kempton

Journalist
Fulbright Scholar to Italy, 1958

1985 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Commentary
Galway Kinnell

Poet
Fulbright Scholar to France, 1955, and to Iran, 1959

1983 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Loretta Tofani

Reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer
Fulbright Scholar to Japan, 1983

1983 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Local Investigative / Specialized Reporting
Sylvia Plath

Poet
Fulbright Student to the United Kingdom, 1955

1982 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
John Updike

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to Ghana and Nigeria
(Lincoln Lecturer), 1973

1982 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction (also won 1991 Pulitzer in Fiction)
C. Vann Woodward

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1955,
and New Zealand, 1995

1982 Pulitzer Prize in History
Leon F. Litwack

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to the Soviet Union, 1980,
and Australia, 1991

1980 Pulitzer Prize in History
Meg Greenfield

Editorial Page Editor for The Washington Post
Fulbright Student to the United Kingdom, 1952

1978 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Editorial Writing
John Ashbery

Poet
Fulbright Student to France, 1955

1976 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Alan M. Kriegsman

Writer
Fulbright Student to Austria, 1956

1976 Pulitzer Prize in Criticism
Richard (R.W.B) Lewis

Biographer
Fulbright Scholar to Germany, 1957,
and Japan, 1977

1976 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
Ned Rorem

Composer and Writer
Fulbright Student to France, 1951

1976 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Dominick Argento

Composer
Fulbright Student to Italy, 1951

1975 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Edward Albee

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to the Soviet Union, 1964
1974 Pulitzer Prize in Drama
(also won 1994 and 1967 Pulitzer Prizes in Drama)

Daniel Boorstin

Historian and former Librarian of Congress
Fulbright Scholar to Japan, 1956,
and to Yugoslavia, 1963

1974 Pulitzer Prize in History
Donald Martino

Composer
Fulbright Student to Italy, 1954-55

1974 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Hedrick Smith

Journalist
Fulbright Student to the United Kingdom, 1955

1974 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for International Reporting
Michael G. Kammen

Historian and Sociologist
Fulbright Specialist to Romania, 2004

1973 Pulitzer Prize in History
Eudora Welty

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1954

1973 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
Carl Neumann Degler

Historian and Author
Fulbright Scholar to Chile, 1967

1972 Pulitzer Prize in History
Jacob Druckman

Composer
Fulbright Student to France, 1954

1972 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Wallace Stegner

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to Greece, 1963

1972 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
James A. Wright

Poet
Fulbright Student to Austria, 1952

1972 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Richard Howard

Poet
Fulbright Student to France, 1958

1970 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Ada Louise Huxtable

Writer and Critic
Fulbright Student to Italy, 1952

1970 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Criticism
T. Harry Williams

Biographer and Historian
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1966

1970 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
Benjamin Reid

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1963

1969 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
N. Scott Momaday

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to Russia and
the Soviet Union, 1973-74

1969 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
George Crumb

Composer
Fulbright Student to Germany, 1954,
and Fulbright Scholar to Australia, 1984

1968 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Anthony Hecht

Poet
Fulbright Scholar to Brazil, 1972

1968 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Edward Albee

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to the Soviet Union, 1964
1967 Pulitzer Prize in Drama
(also won 1994 and 1975 Pulitzer Prizes in Drama)

David Brion Davis

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to India, 1967, and France, 1980

1967 Pulitzer Prize in Non–Fiction
William H. Goetzmann

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1967

1967 Pulitzer Prize in History
Leslie Bassett

Composer
Fulbright Student to France, 1950

1966 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Katherine Anne Porter

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to Belgium, 1954,
and Mexico, 1964

1966 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
Ernest Samuels

Biographer
Fulbright Scholar to Belgium, 1958

1965 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
Richard Hofstadter

Historian and Sociologist
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1955
1964 Pulitzer Prize in General Non–Fiction
(also won 1956 Pulitzer in History)

David Herbert Donald

Historian and Biographer
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1959
1961 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
(also won 1988 Pulitzer in Biography)

Garett Mattingly

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to Italy, 1963
1960 Pulitzer Prize
(Special Awards and Citations)

Russell Jones

Reporter
Fulbright Scholar in France, 1966

1957 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for International Reporting
Richard Hofstadter

Historian and Sociologist
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1955
1956 Pulitzer Prize in History
(also won 1964 Pulitzer in General Non–Fiction)

Theodore Roethke

Poet
Fulbright Scholar to Italy, 1955

1954 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Oscar Handlin

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to France, 1954, and Australia, 1981

1952 Pulitzer Prize in History
Roy Franklin Nichols

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to India, 1962

1949 Pulitzer Prize in History
Virgil Thomson

Composer
Fulbright Scholar to France, 1960

1949 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Peter Viereck

Poet
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1953,
and Italy, 1954-55

1949 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Virginius Dabney

Journalist and Editor
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1954

1948 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Editorial Writing
Aaron Copland

Composer
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1961, Japan, 1962, Germany, 1963-64,
Austria, 1964, and Italy, 1964

1945 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Merle Curti

Historian
Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom, 1952, India, 1964, and Brazil, 1969

1944 Pulitzer Prize in History
Carleton Mabee

Writer
Fulbright Scholar to Pakistan, 1952, and Japan, 1953

1944 Pulitzer Prize in Biography or Autobiography
John Steinbeck

Writer
Fulbright Specialist to the Soviet Union, 1963

1940 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
Robert P. Tristram Coffin

Writer and Poet
Fulbright Scholar to Greece, 1953

1936 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Eugene P. Chase

Editor
Fulbright Scholar to France, 1953 and 1956

1934 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Editorial Writing
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