The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized Towson University for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. TU is receiving this honor for the second time in its history. Fulbright Top Producing Institutions like TU value global connection and support members of their campus communities to pursue international opportunities.
Three TU students were selected for Fulbright awards for the 2023–24 academic year, with one student being selected as an alternate. This year, TU has three semifinalists. They have passed the U.S. national selection process and are moving forward with the respective countries’ selection process.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Scholars exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections and work to address complex global challenges.
"I’m proud to be part of an institution that encourages and supports academic curiosity and the success of our students and young alumni,” says Towson University President Mark R. Ginsberg. “To all of our TU Fulbright Scholars, I congratulate you on your achievements and am so very impressed and inspired by your dedication to cross-cultural learning. I cannot wait to follow along with your futures stemming from this unique, memorable and impactful and very impressive experience.”
TU has had 23 Fulbright awardees since 1968. Eleven TU students and recent graduates applied for the 2024–25 application cycle, with three selected as semifinalists. The three awardees for the 2023-24 academic year mark the second-straight year the university has had multiple winners in a program cycle.
The Office of Competitive Fellowships & Awards at TU—established by the Office of the Provost in 2020 and led by Mary Sajini Devadas, associate professor of chemistry—recruits and prepares students to apply for prestigious opportunities such as the Fulbright with support from Liz Shearer in the Study Abroad & Away Office and Chris Powers from the Office of International Initiatives.
“We have a unique role in the Office of Competitive Fellowships & Awards: to prepare students for global careers by supporting them throughout the application process for one of the most prestigious academic awards in the world,” says Devadas. “Being able to devote our time and expertise to help TU scholars achieve their international dreams makes us proud and helps us achieve TU’s strategic goals.”
This year’s semifinalists hail from the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Fine Arts & Communication. Click here to learn more about Towson's semifinalists.
“Fulbright’s Top Producing Institutions represent the diversity of America’s higher education community,” says Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for Educational and Cultural Affairs. “Dedicated administrators support students and scholars at these institutions to fulfill their potential and rise to address tomorrow’s global challenges. We congratulate them and all the Fulbrighters who are making an impact the world over.”
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org/.
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