The US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) each winter honors the colleges and universities with the highest number of accepted Fulbright fellows.
For the 2023–2024 Fulbright year, Bowdoin was number one in the category of bachelor’s institutions, a ranking it has maintained since the 2020–2021 year. From 2017 to 2020, it ranked second highest.
In addition, Bowdoin has been recognized as a top producing institution for the Fulbright US Scholar Program, as well, just one of twelve institutions to receive both honors. It is in a tie for second, behind Middlebury College.
"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 student Fulbright Program for Bowdoin.
Of the twenty-three students offered awards last spring, sixteen seniors and two recent alumni accepted their Fulbright grants and are currently teaching or conducting research in Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
In a letter to President Safa Zaki, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated the College on its achievement, which he called "a testament to your institution's deep commitment to international exchange and to building lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries."
Blinken personally thanked Stocks and Julia Littlefield, assistant director of the Center for Cocurricular Opportunities, for their work as Fulbright advisors, as well as Cara Martin-Tetreault, the College's designated Fulbright Scholar Liaison for Bowdoin.
He added, "As a diplomat, I'm proud of the Fulbright Program because it supports changemakers and fosters global cooperation on issues of shared importance."
While the US Congress appropriates funds to the US Department of State to sponsor the Fulbright Program, many foreign governments contribute as well. Additional funding is provided by US and foreign host institutions, NGOs, private organizations, corporate partnerships, and individual donors.
