The Fulbright community gathered in Miami, October 24–26, for the Fulbright Association’s 48th Annual Conference at Florida International University (FIU). Under the theme United We Stand, alumni, students, chapter leaders, and partners leaned into the program’s pillars—Advocate, Learn, Engage, and Grow—to explore how international exchange can meet this moment: from advocacy in polarized times to talent pipelines, local impact, the future of work, youth leadership, and responsible AI.
Opening Night: Big Ideas, Warm Welcome
Friday’s Opening Plenary set the tone. Leland Lazarus, Vice Chair of the National Board, welcomed a packed auditorium, followed by greetings from FIU leadership applauding the volunteers and teams who made the conference possible and inviting attendees to a “meaningful, inspiring, and productive conference.”
Moderator Dr. Fanta Aw (CEO, NAFSA) introduced two leaders whose work spans global talent and global logistics: Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., CEO of SHRM, and Basil Khalil, FedEx VP for Latin America and the Caribbean and a Miami civic leader. The three framed a conversation about labor, mobility, and opportunity—how people, skills, and goods move, and how organizations can adapt their cultures and systems for inclusive growth.
Immediately after, Dr. Walter McCollum, President and Chair of the National Board, presented its highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, to Dr. Mary Ellen Heian Schmider—recognized for five decades of service advancing education and international understanding through leadership in classrooms, higher education, and nonprofits, and for championing the Fulbright mission worldwide. Additional honorees included Dr. Jagannath Pati, Dr. Wael Rashid Abdulmajeed, Dr. Gene Tsudik, and Dr. Philip O. Geier. The evening then flowed into a courtyard reception, with parallel invitation-only gatherings for the 1946 Society and Young Fulbrighters.
Saturday: Advocate · Learn · Engage · Grow
Advocate: Navigating Headwinds
The first Saturday plenary, Advocacy in a Time of Global and Domestic Headwinds, asked how advocates for international exchange, human rights, and education move forward when politics polarize and public attention shifts. Angela Schaffer (Fund for Education Abroad) introduced Adrienne Jacobs (Alliance for International Exchange) and Sarah Yager (Human Rights Watch), with discussion tailored for chapter leaders and campus advocates. The room was asked to center strategies: sharpen your story, quantify impact, and build coalitions that can “travel” between local districts and national conversations.
The Selma Jeanne Cohen Dance Lecture
Mid-morning, the conference paused for artistry and scholarship: the Selma Jeanne Cohen Dance Lecture, delivered by Sashar Zarif, a Toronto-based artist-scholar whose three-decade practice spans 40 countries. Introducing Zarif, the host traced his diasporic roots and body-centered research—“a living archive of memory and transformation”—and noted his Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for cultural dialogue. Zarif then invited the audience into a reflective journey about presence and performance: moving beyond “show” toward fully living in the work, and widening one’s story to become “our story” with the audience. It was a reminder that the arts sharpen empathy—the bedrock of exchange.
Learn: Higher Education at a Crossroads
After lunch, Global Academic Exchange in a Changing Higher Ed Policy Landscape brought together Dr. Hilary Landorf (FIU), Rodrick Miller (Miami-Dade Beacon Council), and Sarah Spreitzer (American Council on Education). Spreitzer, who liaises with Congress and federal agencies, outlined pressure points—from visas and geopolitics to research policy—and how institutions manage risk while maintaining global partnerships. Miller connected talent to place, describing how Miami measures success in jobs, investment, and wages while making the “market more competitive”—and how global learning pipelines feed that long-term strategy. The panel’s throughline: read the data, protect academic openness, and keep doors open for first-generation and Pell-eligible students who may not yet “see” Fulbright in their path.
Engage: Global Ideas, Local Impact
In Global Ideas, Local Impact, the conversation turned to how organizations translate international perspective into neighborhood-level outcomes—without losing community trust. Wen-Kuni Ceant (Fulbright Association) moderated a dialogue with Khadija Ghazi (Draper University) and Matthew Hughes (World Affairs Councils of America) about civic education, entrepreneurship pathways, and partnerships that “fit” local context. The program booklet’s framing captured it well: leverage international perspectives to solve challenges at home while navigating the tension between global vision and local realities.
Grow: The Future of Work
The day closed with a fireside chat on The Future of Work and the Skills to Thrive in It, moderated by Sarah Happel (Spectrum Leadership Solutions) with Sam Vaghar (Millennium Campus Network) and Mark Grobmyer (Global Solutions Institute). With technology, climate, and demographics reshaping the labor market, the panel emphasized adaptable skills—communication across cultures, problem-solving in ambiguity, and ethical leadership—as the durable core. Speakers and moderators across the conference repeatedly tied this to Fulbright’s DNA: curiosity, collaboration, and service.
Sunday: Empower, Then Look Ahead
Sunday morning, the Youth Summit’s energy carried into Empowering Youth for Global Action, moderated by Gioia Gentile (Miami-Dade College). Co-chair remarks highlighted exemplar work by young Fulbrighters, including a global project on First Amendment and youth speech rights—a reminder that young people are not only participants but agenda-setters. The panel spotlighted evidence-based pathways to move youth from interest to influence, with Natalia Zea (The Children’s Trust) and Clinton White (Counselor Global Solutions) grounding the conversation in public, private, and philanthropic commitments.
The weekend culminated with AI’s Impact on Academia, Business, and Global Governance, moderated by Zak Kidd (AskHumans) with Kat Duffy (Council on Foreign Relations) and Jesús Rosario (Coursera). The lens wasn’t hype; it was value: fast upskilling and verifiable credentials, guardrails for responsible use, and cross-border norms that boost productivity without widening inequality—core questions for future-ready institutions and economies.
Awards, Chapters, and Community
At Saturday’s luncheon, the community paused to celebrate Chapter Awards—recognizing the local engines that keep Fulbright’s mission moving year-round.
The Fulbright Association extends heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s honorees, and to every chapter, interest group, and leader working tirelessly to advance our shared mission of international understanding and collaboration.
- Outstanding Leader: Mrinalini Watson — India Interest Group
- Outstanding Former Leader: Dr. Sally Gregory Kohlstedt — Minnesota Chapter
- Program of the Year: “Harmony and Reflections” — Massachusetts Chapter
- Virtual Programming of the Year: Community Colleges Chapter
- Excellence in Community Building: North Dakota Chapter
- Excellence in Advocacy: Colorado Chapter
- Excellence in Service: Greater Los Angeles Chapter
What’s Next
The conference closed with thanks from leadership and a prompt to carry the work home: advocate with data and stories; widen access to global learning; translate big ideas into local partnership; upskill for a rapidly changing economy; and center responsible, human-driven use of AI. Along the way, keep inviting youth to lead—and keep the arts at the heart of how we listen and learn.
If you joined us, thank you for pouring your talent and time into this community. Together, we’ll keep building a Fulbright network that advocates, learns, engages, and grows—united.
Thank you to our Sponsors |
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Consulate General of France in Boston |
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Fulbright Germany Alumni Association |
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Individual & Family Sponsors |
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John Vogel • Antonio Lewis • Lazarus Extended Family |
Thank you to Florida International University for hosting the 48th Annual Conference! |
One Response
This was my first conference and I truly enjoyed meeting phenomenal and inspiring individuals. Thank you to the staff and Board Members for organizing the conference.