Bennett College Named “HBCU Institutional Leader” by Fulbright Program

Greensboro, N.C., December 20 — Bennett College has been named a 2018-2019 “Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader” by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). For the first time, the ECA recognizes the noteworthy level of engagement achieved by select Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.

ECA recognized Bennett and 18 other HBCUs through this inaugural “Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader” designation. The designation was established to acknowledge the strong partnerships between the Fulbright Program and HBCUs and to encourage the entire network of HBCUs to increase their Fulbright engagement.  

“It is an honor to be among a select group of HBCUs recognized for support for Fulbright exchange participants during this academic year and our promotion of Fulbright Program opportunities on campus,” said Suzanne Walsh, J.D., President of Bennett College. “Both students and alumnae have benefitted from participating in the program.”

In a message to Walsh, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce conveyed congratulations: “We are pleased to recognize our Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders for the work they have done in engaging with the Fulbright Program. We look forward to continued collaboration in promoting mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. We hope that this recognition inspires HBCUs as well as other institutions to take advantage of all the Fulbright Program has to offer – internationalizing campuses while supporting scholars and students who benefit professionally and personally from a Fulbright experience.”

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program of the United States government and was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given over 390,000 passionate and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to important international problems. The global network of Fulbright scholars fosters mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, advances knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the globe.

Fulbright is active in more than 160 countries worldwide and partners with participating governments, host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States. Many of these organizations also provide direct and indirect support. ECA sponsors the Fulbright program, and several nonprofit, cooperative partners implement and support the program on the Bureau’s behalf. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit eca.state.gov/fulbright.