The Fulbright Association has 55 local chapters in 39 states across the U.S. that are led and managed by volunteer alumni who reside in the area. Chapters provide Fulbright alumni and visiting Fulbrighters with diverse opportunities for networking, professional development, mentoring, cultural enrichment, and community service. The Chapter of the Month series allows the Fulbright community to recognize the great work that these chapters are doing.
This month, we are highlighting the Dallas Chapter!
Answers provided by members of the Dallas Chapter Board of Directors.
Your chapter has been doing great work! Can you share what’s been going on?
The Dallas Chapter seeks to put on one event each month during the fall and spring semesters. During the fall 2024 semester, the Dallas Chapter held several events. Each year, two board members (who are Fulbright Program Advisers) organize a Fulbright Alumni Panel to assist students applying to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Dallas Chapter also held its annual Global Gathering that brings together past, present, and future Fulbrighters along with visiting Fulbrighters from across North Texas. In November, we piloted a new event—coffee networking events held in two different locations in North Texas. Finally, we had a fundraising brunch in December that was paired with a tour of the Legacy of Vesuvius exhibit at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows Museum.
Who are some stand out members of the chapter? How do they contribute to the Dallas alumni community?
The Dallas Chapter is a great group with representatives from across North Texas (Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton, and more!). The Board Members are actively engaged in planning, organizing, and attending events for the chapter and helping to reach out to the Fulbright alumni community in North Texas. Past President Rachel Ball-Phillips and Vice President Aria Cabot were instrumental in providing leadership to the Dallas Chapter that has contributed to its growth in recent years.
What advice would you give to other chapters?
Find ways to have fun and engage with other Fulbrighters! The Fulbright Alumni Chapters are a great resource for networking with Fulbright alumni.
Do you have any upcoming programming for members to participate in?
We are planning a series of events for spring 2025, including a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence lecture event, coffee networking and meet-up events, an international film festival, and our annual Send-Off Event to recognize recent recipients of Fulbright awards. Information about the events will be posted on the Fulbright Alumni Association’s Calendar of Events and shared in our newsletter.