NOVEMBER 2, 2023 — UTSA has been named a Fulbright HSI Leader by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The university joins 46 institutions nationwide to be recognized for noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program during the 2022-2023 academic year.
UTSA was first recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader in 2022. ECA established the designation in 2021 to acknowledge the strong partnerships between the Fulbright Program and Hispanic Serving Institutions and to promote participation among HSIs to fully represent the diversity of the U.S. through the program.
“As a leading HSI, UTSA is deeply committed to fostering global exchange and to providing opportunities for international experiences to our students and faculty,” said Lisa Montoya, UTSA vice provost for global initiatives and senior international officer. “For students in particular, traveling abroad is one of the experiential learning opportunities that advance the university’s Classroom to Career Initiative. Travel abroad allows students to gain exposure to diverse cultures and build intercultural competencies around communication, adaptability and problem-solving—all of which directly support career-engaged learning.”
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Fulbright was founded in 1946 to increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and other countries.
UTSA student Forough Askarirad traveled to Bulgaria in 2022 through Fulbright’s English Teaching Assistant Program.The program awards approximately 9,000 merit-based scholarships in the U.S. and more than 160 countries every year to accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields. Fulbrighters study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges.
“Fulbrighters make the world a better place in classrooms and countries worldwide,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated in a congratulatory letter to UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “The University of Texas at San Antonio’s designation as a 2023 Fulbright HSI Leader is a testament to your institution’s dedication to promoting global engagement and mutual understanding among peoples and nations.”
Andrew Chapman, assistant dean of the Honors College and director of UTSA’s UTSA Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, said participation across Fulbright programs has grown steadily at UTSA since 2019 when the office was established in the Honors College. As example, this year, five UTSA students were named finalists by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the largest number of UTSA students selected to participate in the program. In 2022, four UTSA faculty were selected as Fulbright Scholars.
“Supporting UTSA students and scholars in pursuing highly competitive, merit-based programs such as Fulbright not only enhances individual knowledge but also promotes the university’s vision as a premier public research university that attracts top-tier talent and fosters a culture of academic excellence,” said Chapman. “We hope to continue to encourage more Roadrunners to apply for Fulbright programs, both to recognize their personal and academic achievements and because these experiences open doors to new opportunities.”
On November 9, the U.S. Department of State will host a virtual workshop featuring representatives from Fulbright HSI Leaders to share best practices to engage and support students and faculty, increase the global footprint on campus through the Fulbright Program, host international Fulbright students and scholars, and build international networks. This event is open to the public and is specifically designed for faculty, staff and stakeholders at HSIs.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Come celebrate the doctoral students graduating this commencement season.
H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms, UTSA Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of the graduates of the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203Celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203First Friday Stargazing gives anyone free access to the night sky using university telescopes and teaching equipment. Weather permitting, experienced astronomers will provide a handful of telescopes of varying designs, give training on how each operates, and point to various astronomical objects that may appear in the sky for that given time of the year. If you have a telescope and do not know how to operate it, feel free to bring it and get instructions on its use.
4th Floor of Flawn Science Building, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
