U.S. Department of State Recognizes 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities as Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders

By: The U.S. Department of State

September 18, 2023 –  In carrying out the U.S. Government’s efforts to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) both in policy and practice, the U.S. Department of State recognized 19 HBCUs from 13 states and Washington, D.C. today, as “Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders” for their engagement with the Fulbright Program during the 2022-23 academic year.

The 2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders are: 

• Alcorn State University – Claiborne County, Mississippi
• Bennett College – Greensboro, North Carolina 
• Bluefield State University – Bluefield, West Virginia 
• Central State University – Wilberforce, Ohio 
• Delaware State University – Wilmington, Delaware 
• Fayetteville State University – Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Florida A&M University – Tallahassee, Florida 
• Howard University – Washington, D.C.
• Jackson State University – Jackson, Mississippi
• Jarvis Christian University – Wood County, Texas
• The LeMoyne-Owen College – Memphis, Tennessee
• Lincoln University – Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Mississippi Valley State University – Leflore County, Mississippi 
• Morgan State University – Baltimore, Maryland 
• North Carolina Central University – Durham, North Carolina 
• Spelman College – Atlanta, Georgia
• Texas Southern University – Houston, Texas
• Tuskegee University – Tuskegee, Alabama
• Virginia State University – Ettrick, Virginia 

“Diversity is one of America’s greatest strengths, and pairing the positive power of Fulbright with the academic excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities provides change-making opportunities for students, scholars, and campus communities both here at home and abroad,” said Lee Satterfield, the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

The HBCU Institutional Leader status recognizes engagement with and promotion of the Fulbright Program.  Recognized HBCUs host Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants and Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence, who teach in HBCU classrooms, and other international Fulbright Students and Scholars, and have U.S. students, faculty, and staff carry out Fulbright awards to study, teach, or conduct research abroad. 

On November 6, the U.S. Department of State will host a virtual workshop featuring representatives from Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders to share best engagement practices to support students and faculty, increase the global footprint on campus through the Fulbright Program, host international Fulbright students and scholars, and build international networks. This event is open to the public and is specifically designed for faculty, staff, and stakeholders at HBCUs. 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. Government’s flagship international academic exchange program with a longstanding commitment to diversity, working to ensure that participants reflect the United States and societies abroad. In addition to its strong partnership with HBCUs, the Fulbright Program works closely with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, Diversity Abroad, and many more organizations.

There has been a long history of engagement between the Fulbright Program and HBCUs. The inaugural Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board included Fisk University President Dr. Charles S. Johnson and the first Fulbright cohort included four participants affiliated with HBCUs. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 students, scholars, artists, and teachers from all types of institutions the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters build connections, gain experience, exchange ideas, and address global challenges.

Learn more about the Fulbright Program at https://fulbrightprogram.org, including information about Fulbright’s efforts to further DEIA within the program and about the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders initiative. 

Follow the Fulbright Program’s social media accounts and websites for highlights on HBCUs and Fulbright: 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fulbright 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FulbrightPrgrm  
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/the_fulbright_program 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fulbright