Purdue joins elite list of Fulbright top-producing institutions

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University has been included on the prestigious list of U.S. colleges and universities selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for 2021-2022.

Each year the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces the top-producing institutions for the Fulbright Program, the federal government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Purdue tied for third in the nation in the competition for "Research Institutions" for scholar awards, making it one of the top producers in the country for 2021-2022.

The university is one of only 18 research institutions to be named. The Chronicle of Higher Education publishes the lists annually.

“We couldn’t be more proud as, every year, more of our faculty members have been chosen to become part of this widely recognized and prestigious international program,” said Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity. “Participation in the Fulbright program can literally be a career-changing experience. We hope to remain among the top-producing institutions for Fulbright Faculty Scholars for many years to come.”

In 2020, six Purdue faculty members were named 2020-2021 Fulbright Faculty Scholars for their projects, which were chosen because they demonstrated progress in the health sciences and social welfare. More specifically, improving Alzheimer’s disease treatments, understanding how brain trauma can lead to heart dysfunction and advancing K-12 STEM education are some of the topics that made up these faculty’s research projects. For the 2021-2022 competition, eight Purdue faculty have been selected for a Fulbright Scholar Award.

Christopher J. Lukasik, provost fellow, Fulbright faculty awards; and associate professor of English and American studies, said, “Fulbright recipients often describe their experiences as life-changing, and their expanded world views make them better informed to speak to global issues upon their return to the United States. Fulbright faculty are exceptionally well-prepared to speak to students who are not only entering into a global economy, but who belong to a generation that must confront a series of challenges - global in scale – such as climate change or food security.”

This years’s Fulbright US Scholar Award deadline is Sept. 15. For more information on the Fulbright Faculty Award Program, contact Lukasik at clukasik@purdue.edu.

The Fulbright Program was established over 75 years ago to increase mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and those of other countries. Fulbright is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program. Its primary source of funding is an annual appropriation from Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

Fulbright is active in more than 160 countries and partners with participating governments, host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the U.S. Many of these organizations also provide direct and indirect support. ECA sponsors the Fulbright Program, and several nonprofit, cooperative partners implement and support the program on its behalf. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit eca.state.gov/fulbright.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu

Writer: Margaret Mowrer

Media contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, apatterson@purdue.edu 

Source: Christopher Lukasik, clukasik@purdue.edu