The US Department of State has identified the top-producing colleges and universities for 2022–2023, and Bowdoin leads undergraduate institutions with nineteen Fulbright fellows.
Bowdoin's Fulbright fellows were notified of their awards last spring and are fulfilling their yearlong terms this academic year, teaching English or doing research in Spain, Morocco, Israel, Taiwan, Lithuania, Colombia, Mexico, Germany, Thailand, and Finland.
For the past two years, Bowdoin has had more seniors and recent graduates receive Fulbrights than has any other undergraduate institution. For the three years prior, it ranked second highest.
"I’m thrilled that so many of our students have the chance to take part in the Fulbright program, whose mission seems more important than ever right now," said Cindy Stocks, who, as director of Student Fellowships and Research, administers the Fulbright program for Bowdoin.
The Fulbright US Student Program is the federal government's flagship educational exchange program. It is highly competitive, awarding funds to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals for a year of research, study, or teaching English abroad. Founded in 1946, it is meant to facilitate cultural exchange and foster mutual understanding between Americans and their hosts.
Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for the state department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, said in a press release that he sends congratulations to the top producers on behalf of President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken.
“Thanks to the visionary leadership of the institutions, administrators, and advisors, a new generation of Fulbrighters—change-makers, as I like to say—will catalyze lasting impact on their campus, in their communities, and around the world,” he wrote.
