(Above) Members of the 2016-2017 National Capital Area Chapter Board, with Fulbright Association Deputy Director Shaz Akram.
The National Capital Area Chapter (NCAC) of the Fulbright Association represents Fulbright alumni in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia. In 2016, NCAC received the Committee’s Choice Award from the Fulbright Association for innovative outreach efforts.
With an active membership of over 500, the NCAC chapter spans a variety of industries, age groups, and interests. The NCAC Board designs programming to engage diverse groups within their membership, including professional development and networking events, happy hours, and volunteer opportunities. NCAC organizes a popular speaker series called Emerging Leaders, through which presenters in the early- to mid-stages of their careers share their perspectives and advice with young Fulbright alumni. The chapter takes full advantage of their proximity to the nation’s capital, incorporating cultural outings and events at foreign embassies as a regular component of their annual programming. In 2016, NCAC also hosted a holiday potluck and a U.S. election watch party, and participated in a local Habitat for Humanity project. Most recently, the NCAC Chapter collaborated with the Fulbright Association National Office to produce TEDxFulbright: A Curious Picture, an evening of talks by Fulbright alumni that took place in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2017.
Outgoing NCAC Board President Sean Anderson (Fulbright to Colombia, 2011), only knew one person in the area when he moved to Washington, D.C. — and he happened to be a fellow Fulbrighter who was active in the NCAC Chapter! By joining the Fulbright Association and the NCAC, Sean found “a community of people with similar interests and passions, which was particularly great as someone new to the city.” In addition to building a strong local network, Sean notes that being part of an FA chapter can help alums to share and process their Fulbright journey: “One of the challenges of returning from a Fulbright is that you don’t get to share your experiences with others. Joining the Fulbright Association gives you that opportunity, and so do events like TEDxFulbright.”
“The National Office has always enjoyed close ties with the NCAC. We commend their Board leadership for promoting a strong Fulbright community in the Washington, D.C., metro area through their dynamic chapter programming and local partnerships, and we’re proud to spotlight their chapter this month,” says Shaz Akram, Fulbright Association Deputy Director.
If you live in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Northern Virginia area and would like to learn about the National Capital Area Chapter, visit the NCAC website for more information and to join their mailing list. To become a member of the Fulbright Association, visit: fulbright.org/membership.
—Michelle Dimino
