Florida A&M University (FAMU) is among 19 institutions of higher education recognized as “Fulbright Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Institutional Leaders” by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) for their noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.
“This recognition is an appreciation of the commitment by FAMU’s faculty and students to engage locally, nationally, and globally for research and scholarship,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “We always remind our students they can get anywhere from FAMU. The Fulbright program is one of the most prestigious ways to do so.”
Numerous FAMU faculty members have conducted research as Fulbright scholars. College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health (CoPPs, IPH), Associate Professor Carlos A. Reyes Ortiz, M.D., Ph.D., is presently in Cali, Colombia, where he is being hosted by the Program of Geriatrics, Department of Family Medicine at the University of Valle. The medical doctor is using his funding to assess frailty, functional and mental status among institutionalized older adults as a result of COVID-19 at the 260-bed Geriatric Hospital and Nursing Home San Miguel (GHNH-SM).
“Knowing the long-term effects of COVID-19 on older persons is essential to understand the trajectory of an institutionalized older person in critical geriatric parameters – getting frail, functional, or mental decline – that could be prevented with early interventions such as rehabilitation, and which are also essential parameters for survival and quality of life,” said Reyes Ortiz, a native of Colombia and associate professor of behavioral science and health education. He said this research project will benefit more than both institutions, the GHNH-SM, which is affiliated with Universidad del Valle (University of Valle) and FAMU.
Anosh Gill, interim division director for the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communications (SJGC), plans to spend two months in Pakistan as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar next summer.
Gill, an accomplished graphic designer with a specialty in developing logos, plans to to help Pakistani faculty and designers create and understand conceptual logos using a specific font.
Two FAMU faculty members, Olivier Chamel, as associate professor in the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology, and Gokhan Hacisalihoglu, Ph.D., professor in the College of Science and Technology, went to Japan last summer as Fulbright scholars.
Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders have demonstrated noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years and have promoted Fulbright program opportunities on campus.
The announcement of the 19 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders was made by the State Department as HBCU leaders prepare to gather in Washington, DC and virtually for the White House Initiative on HBCUs National HBCU Week Conference, and Fulbright opportunities will be highlighted in events such as the career and recruitment fair during this week.
On November 3, a Fulbright HBCU Virtual Workshop will feature representatives of Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders sharing best practices for HBCUs to leverage Fulbright Program engagement to support students and faculty, increase campus internationalization, and build global networks. This event is open to the public and is specifically designed for HBCU faculty, staff, and stakeholders.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since its inception over 75 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad, exchanging ideas, and contributing to finding solutions to important international problems.
Each year, the U.S. Congress appropriates funds to the U.S. Department of State to sponsor the Fulbright Program. Many foreign governments contribute substantially as well. Additional funding and in-kind funding is provided by U.S. and foreign host institutions, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, corporate partnerships, and individual donors.
Over many years the Fulbright Program has designed and implemented a wide range of initiatives to increase participant diversity and inclusion. The program strives to ensure that its participants reflect the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. Fulbrighters come from all backgrounds and are selected through an open, merit-based competition, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Information on the Fulbright Program’s diversity and inclusion initiatives is detailed on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.
For more information on the Fulbright Program, visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by e-mail ECA-Press@state.gov.