Across the country, our Fulbright Association chapters are providing excellent opportunities to bring together alumni and friends of the Fulbright Program. Last month, the Chicago Chapter and the Institute of International Education co-hosted the annual “Winter Wonderland” reception, which brings the Fulbright community together for a night of networking and socializing. The event brought together 70 guests representing 22 different countries, highlighting the vibrant and diverse members of the Fulbright community.

The programming featured vocalist and Jazz performer Tina Crawley, who performed with pianist Amr Fahmy. The music was a special treat, as Crawley was voted the Best Gospel Entertainer in 2015 by the Chicago Music Awards. She performed her interpretation of an array of pop songs with a jazz feel. Students and scholars alike were brought to their feet dancing and singing along to her jazzy beats. The event was an exceptional opportunity for Fulbrighters and friends to celebrate last year’s accomplishments as well as recharge for the start of a new semester.

Both new and existing members of the Fulbright Association joined the Chicago Chapter as they welcomed the newly elected Chicago Chapter board. During this event, the former president of the Chapter, Meredith McNeil, introduced the new president, Dr. Edel Marie Jose. Edel Marie is looking forward to working with the new team of board members, claiming, “Their invigorating spirit and excitement for the upcoming year will bring many new goals and events to the Chicago Chapter.” Guests were encouraged to ask questions and inform the new board members of how the chapter can better serve its members.

In the upcoming year, the newly elected board hopes to highlight the achievements of the Fulbright alumni and showcase their expertise in ways that give back to the community. They plan to do this by hosting a variety of workshops and speaker series in different locations to expand their reach of alumni in the area. An event they are most looking forward to is their Spring Symposium. The event, which will commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference of Women, invites Fulbright alumni and friends to celebrate women’s empowerment and encourage others to continue working towards gender equality.

The Fulbright Association national office is proud to work with dedicated chapter leaders like those on the Chicago team. Those interested in joining their local chapter can click here to log in or join the Fulbright Association today. To view a complete list of our national chapter network, please click here.