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PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Sept. 10, 2024) - Prairie View A&M University is proud to be named a Fulbright Historically Black College and University Institutional Leader for 2024. Each year, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognizes the engagement of HBCUs with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. PVAMU, which has had two Fulbright scholars in recent years, was also highlighted in 2021 as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader.

Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders demonstrate noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and encourage administrators, faculty and students at HBCUs to engage with Fulbright on campus. The Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders initiative highlights HBCUs as a destination for international students and scholars and showcases the deep intellectual tradition and proud history of each to audiences abroad.

The announcement of the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders was made on Sept. 10, 2024, in advance of the 2024 Annual National HBCU Week Conference hosted by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken congratulated each HBCU Institutional Leader, saying this designation "is a testament to your institution's dedication to promoting global engagement and international understanding."

"The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Program are committed to reflecting the full diversity of the United States," said Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, emphasizing that HBCU engagement with the Fulbright Program helps to accomplish this goal and "builds meaningful relationships between communities and people around the world."

"Historically Black Colleges and Universities are vital contributors to America's higher education community. They are dedicated institutions working to develop the leaders of tomorrow," said Weinhold.

PVAMU received its first Fulbright US student, Stephanie Tilley, during the 2023-2024 cycle, with campus advisor Benjamin Simington helping her through the process. "The Fulbright U.S. Program is one of the most sacred and powerful experiences of my life," Tilley said. "It has been deeply moving and life-changing as it has propelled my personal and professional journey in invaluable ways. For me, participating in the Fulbright program has been an answered prayer as it has allowed me to fulfill many of my dreams and has given me a renewed sense of direction and purpose within my career and personal life."

Tilley's success has fostered a growing fellowship campus culture amongst PVAMU students, resulting in a record number of four student applications for the Fulbright program this past cycle under current Fulbright campus advisor Alexis Agard.

"As the executive director of International Programs and an instructor of earth and environmental science, one of my primary goals is to create opportunities for faculty and students to incorporate international perspectives into every area of our curriculum," said Dr. Godlove Fonjweng, who was awarded the Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad in South Africa for U.S. educators this summer. "While our students can excel anywhere, incorporating global viewpoints is crucial for their growth as global citizens and leaders."

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided 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. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.

The Fulbright Program implements a wide range of initiatives to ensure that its participants reflect all aspects of the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. The Program also cultivates relationships with external stakeholders, including the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Mobility International, among many others.

Learn more about the Fulbright Program at https://fulbrightprogram.org and how HBCUs engage with the Fulbright Program.

-PVAMU-

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