Penn State named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars for 10th year running

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 18 universities to receive such recognition this year. Eight Penn State faculty received Fulbright Program awards for 2021-22, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, who published the annual list of the top-producing institutions earlier this week.

This year, according to the Fulbright Program, the 2021-22 Top Producing data reflects the total number of awards offered, rather than the number of awards accepted. Information on the 2021-22 scholars will be available soon.

Penn State has made the Top Producers list for the past 10 years and ranked No. 1 in the country in 2019-20.

“We are proud of the high-quality, high-impact work of our Fulbright scholars,” said Roger Brindley, vice provost for Global. “Fulbrighters create global connections with institutions around the world and bring their knowledge and experiences back to enrich Penn State.”

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.

“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 sub-Saharan Africa engagement and faculty Fulbright adviser at the University.

In April, Penn State Global will host a Fulbright reception for any Penn Stater who has completed a Fulbright experience. Fulbright recipients from this or previous years should receive an email invitation; if not, contact Coleen Hynoski (cah54@psu.edu) for an invite link to the April 8 event.

The Fulbright program was established in 1946 by Sen. J. William Fulbright and it is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the Department of State. The program celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright 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.

2022-23 Fulbright submissions due by Sept. 15

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.