FIU a Top 5 producer of Fulbright Scholars

FIU is among the Top 5 U.S. doctoral institutions that produced the most Fulbright U.S. Scholars in 2023-2024, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced this week in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The Fulbright program is the U.S. government’s competitive flagship international educational exchange program. It awards grants to U.S. faculty and administrators to conduct research, teach or conduct professional projects. It also makes awards to visiting scholars from across the world to engage at U.S. campuses. Separately, Fulbright offers exchanges for U.S. students to study or teach English abroad, and visiting international students to the U.S.

Six scholars from FIU were awarded Fulbright grants for work in the fields of biology, epidemiology, math/statistics, modern languages, jazz music and musicology. Additionally, a seventh scholar, representing criminology and criminal justice, earned a “triple Fulbright,” a rare award that involves a multi-country project to be conducted over a two-year period. (Two other scholars were also named, but were ultimately unable to represent FIU overseas.)

“This achievement is a testament to your institution’s deep commitment to international exchange and to building lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” wrote U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a congratulatory letter. He also commended the work of Panthers Assefa Melesse, himself a Fulbright Scholar to Ethiopia in 2013, and Gitta Montoto in their roles as designated Fulbright program campus liaisons. The pair work directly with faculty on their applications and provide additional support as needed.

“As a diplomat, I’m proud of the Fulbright Program because it supports changemakers and fosters global cooperation on issues of shared importance,” Blinken continued. “Fulbrighters strive to make the world a better place in classrooms and countries worldwide.”