The University of New Mexico was among the list of top U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2019-2020 Fulbright U.S. Scholars announced today by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The top producers highlight the Fulbright Program’s strong institutional diversity and impact on American communities across the United States.    

Eight scholars from UNM were awarded Fulbright awards for 2019-2020 tying for fourth place with six other institutions including notable doctoral universities such as Florida State, Michigan State, Purdue and Washington. Fulbright Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals. They include seven faculty - Laura Brown, Joseph Cook, Kristina Jacobsen, Robert Jefferson, Ravinder Jain, Todd Ruecker, Jennifer Tucker, and administrator Nicole Tami.

Also, six UNM students were named recipients, tying with other research institutions including the University of Colorado-Boulder, Dartmouth College, University of Massachusetts, Purdue and Utah. Not only did UNM duplicate its total number of students from last year, but it also had more students than any of its fellow Mountain West institutions and more students than any other institution in the state of New Mexico. The students include Andrew Bernard, Evan Bleakley, Camille Dwyer, Chsirtian Skye Fink, Andrej Radic and Stephen West.

Each year the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces the top-producing institutions for the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. The Chronicle of Higher Education publishes the lists annually.

“We are delighted to see that the colleges and universities we are honoring as 2019-2020 Fulbright Top Producing Institutions reflect the geographic and institutional diversity of higher education in the United States,” said Marie Royce, assistant secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. “In supporting their faculty and administrators who pursue Fulbright awards, these institutions benefit from new viewpoints from abroad and new international collaborations, which often lead to discoveries and breakthroughs that have a global impact.

“Fulbright U.S. Scholars benefit professionally throughout their career by expanding the scope and reach of their research, bringing a global perspective to their teaching, and receiving the professional recognition that comes with being named a Fulbright Scholar.”

"I am so proud to see UNM included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2019-2020 Fulbright U.S. Scholars. With eight scholars, UNM is among the seven institutions tied for having the fourth-highest number of awardees," said UNM President Garnett S. Stokes. "Additionally, six UNM students received Fulbright awards in 2019-2020. This reflects the worldwide reach and engagement we have as the University for New Mexico. Our Fulbright recipients are top scholars and researchers within their disciplines, and these prestigious and highly competitive awards open doors for them to share their talents on a global scale and to bring back new ways of thinking and learning to UNM."

The Fulbright Scholar Program is supported at UNM through the National & International Scholarships and Fellowships (NISF) office that provides students with merit-based scholarship and fellowship opportunities. For more information on scholarship opportunities visit the NISF website.

“The University of New Mexico and Albuquerque have a strong and active Fulbright community. Since 2010, 44 faculty members and 20 students from The University of New Mexico have received the prestigious Fulbright awards,” said Kiyoko Simmons, director, Center for Academic Excellence & Leadership Development, Honors College. “The success of the Fulbright program at The University of New Mexico has been aided by the New Mexico Fulbright Association and The University of New Mexico faculty who provide their generous support for the Fulbright process.”

The Fulbright Program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Over 2,200 U.S. students and over 900 U.S. college and university faculty and administrators are awarded Fulbright grants annually. In addition, some 4,000 Fulbright Foreign Students and Visiting Scholars come to the United States annually to study, lecture, conduct research, or teach their native language.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given over 390,000 passionate and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to important international problems. The global network of Fulbrights foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, advances knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the globe.

Fulbright is active in more than 160 countries worldwide and partners with participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States. Many of these organizations also provide direct and indirect support. ECA sponsors the Fulbright program, and the Bureau's behalf, several non-profit, cooperative partners implement and support the program.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.