American University was in February named a top producer of US student Fulbright scholars for 2023–24 with 13, marking the eighth time in 12 years that AU has received the distinction.
The university is among the 40 doctoral institutions that produce the greatest number of students accepted to the US government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program, administered by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
“I’m thrilled to congratulate our new AU Fulbrighters, who join a tradition that has a long history on our campus,” President Sylvia Burwell says. “AU’s longstanding vision is to be a global campus where students and scholars from all over the world come together, share ideas, and work toward a common purpose.”
Founded in 1946, the Fulbright US Student Program was established after World War II to foster mutual understanding between the US and other countries. In partnership with more than 140 nations, the program funds independent research, English-language teaching assistantships, and other international study opportunities for recent graduates and graduate students.
AU has 10 student Fulbrighters—representing four different schools and colleges—currently abroad in Spain, Jordan, Albania, Colombia, Ethiopia, and other nations. The university has produced 246 Fulbright student scholars in its history, and 27 Eagles are semifinalists for the upcoming cohort cycle that will be announced in May.
“This speaks to the kind of experience that students can have when they come to AU,” says Paula Warrick, senior director of the Office of Merit Awards. “There are opportunities [here] to intern and engage in service work in DC.” That pedigree, along with students’ proximity to the federal government, makes them a strong candidate for the Fulbright.
Since its inception, Fulbright has awarded grants to 400,000 scholars, students, teachers, artists, and scientists. Forty-one heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and 89 Pulitzer Prize winners are Fulbright Scholars.
Azeezat Salaudeen, SIS-SPA/BA ’23, who began her Fulbright English teaching assistantship in Luxembourg in September, says it’s “a privilege” to be part of such a storied tradition.
“It’s beyond my wildest dreams,” says the first-generation college graduate and the child of Nigerian immigrants. “I’m incredibly proud of myself, and I’m incredibly thankful for the Office of Merit Awards, the people who wrote recommendation letters, and those who believed I could do it.”