The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs within the U.S. State Department acknowledged Florida State University as one of the institutions across the nation with the most faculty and administrators chosen for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

Institutions like FSU that are recognized as Fulbright Top Producers prioritize global connections and encourage members of their campus communities throughout the United States to seek international experiences.

“This acknowledgment is a significant testament to our faculty’s commitment to connect and collaborate with partners worldwide in their research and teaching,” stated Stephen McDowell, FSU’s assistant provost for international initiatives. “It also demonstrates the importance of the university’s investments in assisting faculty with these endeavors. We are thrilled to celebrate their noteworthy achievements.”

For the academic year 2024-2025, six faculty scholars and one post-doctoral researcher from FSU received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards. Since the program’s initiation, FSU has had 191 faculty members inducted into it.

The Fulbright Program serves as the premier international academic exchange initiative of the U.S. government. Established in 1946, it has granted over 400,000 gifted and accomplished individuals—students, scholars, educators, artists, and professionals from various backgrounds—the chance to study, teach, and engage in research overseas. Fulbright participants share ideas, foster connections between people, and strive to tackle intricate global issues.

This year’s seven Fulbright Scholars from FSU traveled to Sweden, Colombia, Italy, India, Germany, and Finland to conduct research within their fields of study.

• Nora Underwood, a professor in the Department of Biological Science in the College of Arts and Sciences, investigated the effect of climate on the phenology of flora and fauna at Stockholm University, Sweden.
• Diana Lopez, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biological Science in the College of Arts and Sciences, researched coral ecophysiology on Gorgona Island, Colombia.
• Mainak Mookherjee, a professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science within the College of Arts and Sciences, examined trace water content in crustal rocks in India.
• Vincent Salters, director of the geochemistry program at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, studied the Earth’s mantle and the fractionation resulting from mid-ocean ridge volcanism at the University of Münster, Germany.
• Shuyuan Ho Metcalfe, an associate professor in the School of Information within the College of Communication and Information, explored perceptions and traceability of anonymous communication for global cybersecurity in Bologna, Italy.
• Daekwan Kim, the Spencer-Feheley MBA Professor in the Dr. Persis E. Rockwood School of Marketing within the College of Business, researched performance and sustainability implications of global as opposed to regional industries at the University of Vaasa, Finland.
• Gang Wang, the Madeline Duncan Rolland Associate Professor and doctoral program director for organizational behavior, human resources, and strategy in the Department of Management at the College of Business, investigated leadership, acquisition premiums, and human resources management in Helsinki, Finland.

Support for applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program at FSU is provided by Peggy Wright-Cleveland, director of faculty development in the Office of Faculty Development. Faculty at FSU wishing to learn more about the Fulbright application process can reach out to her directly at [email protected].

“I am consistently amazed by the contributions FSU faculty make through the Fulbright program,” remarked Wright-Cleveland. “Ranging from physics to music, faculty members from FSU have shared research, educational practices, and curricula with peers, administrators, and students abroad. They have also returned to FSU with fresh collaborations, broadened research avenues, and enhanced skills. I believe no professional development opportunity surpasses the Fulbright Scholar program. Kudos to our faculty.”

Fulbright is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, with financial backing from the U.S. Government. Additionally, participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations globally extend both direct and indirect aid to the program.

Alumni of the Fulbright program strive to make a positive difference in their communities, industries, and globally, having included 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize recipients, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and influencers fostering mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations.

To learn more about the Fulbright Program, please visit fulbrightprogram.org.

The article FSU acknowledged as a leading institution for U.S. Fulbright Scholars first appeared on Florida State University News.