UTA named 2022 HSI Leader by Fulbright Program
The University of Texas at Arlington is proud to be named a Fulbright HSI Leader for the first time by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
The ECA conferred Fulbright HSI Leader status on 43 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) for their noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program.
“UTA is proud to be a diverse campus where everyone and their ideas have a place to shine,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. “The Fulbright Program adds to UTA’s diversity by connecting Mavericks with invaluable opportunities to immerse themselves in cultures other than their own.”
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs Ethan Rosenzweig announced the Fulbright HSI Leaders on Oct. 10 during an international plenary session at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) annual conference in San Diego.
In his remarks, Rosenzweig noted the strong relationship between HSIs and the Fulbright Program. He thanked HSI leaders for their collaboration and for recognizing the value of the Fulbright Program in deepening campus internationalization efforts, and he recognized Fulbright campus liaisons and advisors for recruiting and advising applicants.
“The Fulbright Program’s success with HSIs is built on real collaboration with you and your institutions,” he said.
A number of UTA students and faculty are Fulbright Program scholars, including:
- Erin Carlson, clinical professor and director of graduate public health programs in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, who developed a program to exchange public health knowledge in Colombia
- Sedrick Huckaby, associate professor of art and art history, who traveled to Mexico to make portraits of the Mascogos community, who descended from Afro-Seminoles in the United States
- Ritu Khanduri, associate professor in sociology and anthropology, who traveled to India for her research “From Mohan to Mahatma: An Ethnography of a Global Icon”
- George Qhobosheane, a Fulbright Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. Since its inception over 75 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchanging ideas and contributing to finding solutions to complex international challenges.
Each year, Congress appropriates funds to the U.S. Department of State to sponsor the Fulbright Program. Many foreign governments contribute substantially as well. Additional funding and in-kind funding are provided by U.S. and foreign host institutions, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, corporate partnerships and individual donors.
Over many years the Fulbright Program has designed and implemented a wide range of initiatives to increase participant diversity and inclusion. The program strives to ensure that its participants reflect the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. Fulbrighters come from all backgrounds and are selected through an open, merit-based competition, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Information on the Fulbright Program’s diversity and inclusion initiatives is detailed on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.