For the sixth year in a row, Colgate University has been recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students, Fulbright reported in The Chronicle for Higher Education.
In announcing the honor, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said, “As a diplomat, I’m proud of the Fulbright Program because it supports changemakers and fosters global cooperation on issues of shared importance. Fulbrighters strive to make the world a better place in classrooms and countries worldwide.”
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. It is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program, facilitating cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks. During their grants, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences.
For instance, Anna Gianneschi ’23 now serves as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in the northern Jordan city of Irbid. In her role, Gianneschi states that she “develops cultural and educational ties between Jordan and the United States through English language programming.”
Not only is she teaching English at the local English center on a daily basis, but has enhanced her Arabic proficiency through classes funded by the Fulbright Critical Language Enhancement Award.
Gianneschi, a peace and conflict studies major, Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, and Spanish double-minor, credits her many Colgate experiences for preparing her for her Fulbright in Jordan. “Studying in Egypt with both the monetary support of a Golden Fellowship and the emotional support of my Arabic professors definitely prepared me for life in Jordan in terms of language acquisition and cultural adaptability,” she states.
Gianneschi encourages students to “stay flexible and open-minded, the right opportunity will find you.” As a sophomore, Gianneschi was also the recipient of the Boren Scholarship.
The Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships (ONFS) is the advising and preparation center for the US Student Fulbright competition at Colgate. Students and alumni interested in applying for Fulbright are encouraged to reach out to Assistant Director, Meghan Niedt, mniedt@colgate.edu, to schedule an appointment.