UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has once again been recognized as a top U.S. producer of faculty Fulbright Scholars by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, one of 17 universities to receive such recognition this year. Ten Penn State faculty received Fulbright Program awards for 2020-21, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, who published the annual list of the top-producing institutions earlier this month. Penn State has consistently made the top producers list in recent years.
“The last year has clearly demonstrated how interconnected the world is and has highlighted the need for global cooperation,” said Rob Crane, associate vice provost for Global Programs. “The Fulbright Program is an important mechanism for building collaborative networks, and Penn State’s ongoing success in this program reflects how well Penn State researchers are connected around the world.”
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. The program offers Penn State faculty members, staff and administrators opportunities to conduct advanced research, teach, or do both, and attend seminars abroad. The program also affords recipients the opportunity to interact with, and make an impact on, their host communities during their Fulbright tenure.
This year, according to the Fulbright Program, as a result of the global disruption caused by the pandemic, the 2020-21 Top Producing data reflects the total number of awards offered, rather than the number of awards accepted. Information on the 2020-21 scholars will be available when the Fulbright program launches the new scholar directory at www.cies.org next month.
“The willingness of Penn State faculty to enter into this competition in spite of the heightened level of uncertainty speaks to the program’s enduring appeal, and such resilience is worth commending,” said Sylvester Osagie, director of water, energy, and food nexus (West Africa) and faculty Fulbright adviser.
The Fulbright program was established in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright and it is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the Department of State. The program celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2021. Since its inception in 1946, the program has given over 390,000 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.
Faculty who are interested in applying are aided by members of the Fulbright discipline-based panels, who take time to share their Fulbright experience with their colleagues. These panels consist of former Faculty Fulbright Recipients that have successfully navigated the application process and received awards. Panelists review, evaluate, and provide critical feedback to any faculty applying for a Fulbright award.
The new 2022-23 awards competition has just been announced, and the deadline for submission is Sept. 15. For more information about the application process, contact Sylvester Osagie at 814-867-4276 or soo1@psu.edu.