St. Olaf among top producers of U.S. Fulbright students
St. Olaf College is one of the top producers of Fulbright fellows among liberal arts colleges across the nation.
Last spring seven St. Olaf seniors won Fulbright awards for 2018–19, putting the college on a list of colleges and universities that produced the most fellows this year.
The list, compiled by the Institute of International Education on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, was published in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Of the six St. Olaf graduates who are currently abroad on their Fulbright fellowship, three are using their awards to conduct research and three are performing English teaching assistantships.
“Fulbright is a tremendous opportunity that provides funds for recent graduates to conduct research, attend graduate school, and teach English abroad. The fact that St. Olaf is a top producer is due, in part, to the resources that the college allocates for Fulbright, including the faculty and staff volunteer time spent reading personal statements, interviewing students, and discussing research and teaching plans,” says Associate Professor of Education Heather Campbell, who serves as the co-director of external fellowships (Fulbright) and scholarships. “Globally engaged Oles are a perfect fit for the mission of Fulbright — to promote mutual understanding among nations.”
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is sponsored by the Department of State and awards more than 1,500 grants to U.S. students every year.
The program operates in more than 140 countries, seeking to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries” and “contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.” Program participants are chosen based on many factors, including leadership potential and academic merit.