Middlebury a Top Producer of Fulbright Students and Scholars
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury College has been noted as a top producer of Fulbright students and scholars for the 2016-17 academic year – one of just 16 U.S. bachelor’s institutions to appear on both lists. The Chronicle of Higher Education highlighted the top Fulbright-producing institutions by category in an article this week.
“The Fulbright program is a vital opportunity for students and scholars to advance cross-cultural knowledge and understanding through their teaching and research,” said President Laurie Patton, herself a former double Fulbright fellowship recipient, teaching in Israel in 2000, and conducting research on women, Sanskrit, and religious identity in India in 2004. “I am immensely proud of Middlebury’s students and faculty who continue this tradition of excellence. It is completely consonant with Middlebury’s values as an institution committed to the exchange of ideas across international boundaries.”
With seven student awards for the current year, Middlebury is in the middle of the pack of bachelor’s institutions, tied with Wesleyan, Hamilton, Grinnell, and Holy Cross. Smith College leads the group with 17 awards.
The seven current Middlebury Fulbright students include Timothy Fraser, Dylan Gilbert, Todd Hunsaker, and Mara Moettus – all members of the Class of 2016; Amy Herman M.A. ’15, Leif Castren ’14, and Barbara Ofosu-Somuah ’13.
Two Middlebury faculty members are current U.S. Fulbright scholars. Professor of Economics Jon Isham is in Ghana, based at Ashesi University College. Cynthia Packert, professor of history of art and architecture, is in India, hosted by Bhavan’s Sheth Ranchhodlal Acharatlal College of Arts & Commerce.
“We are thrilled to again be named a top producer of Fulbright grantees,” said Lisa Gates, associate dean for fellowships and research. “The Fulbright program provides an amazing opportunity for our young alumni to pursue independent research or teach English abroad, to immerse themselves in another culture and build lasting connections.”
Gates says students and alumni interested in applying in the fall 2017 application cycle should contact the fellowships office, attend the March 1 information session, and submit a preliminary application by April 15. More information is available at Middlebury’s fellowships website.
The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the United States Congress to the Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright program has provided more than 370,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. More than 1,100 U.S. college and university faculty and administrators, professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, and independent scholars are awarded Fulbright grants to teach and/or conduct research annually.
Lists of Fulbright Scholar recipients are available at: www.iie.org/cies.