What is the Fulbright Association?
The Fulbright Association, established in 1977, is an independent non-profit and the American alumni organization of the Fulbright Program. Since its inception in 1946, Fulbright scholarships have facilitated over 400,000 academic and professional exchanges across 165 countries, promoting cultural understanding and reducing conflict. With 54 local chapters, the Association furthers the Fulbright mission by connecting global Fulbrighters and their ideas, supporting career development and mentorship, and advocating for the future of the Fulbright Program.
VISION
A peaceful and cooperative world advanced through international educational exchange and cultural immersion.
Our History
In 1976, the Board of Foreign Scholarships (now the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board) convened regional Fulbright alumni meetings to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Fulbright Program. The Fulbright Association grew out of resolutions adopted at those meetings. The late Arthur Power Dudden became its founding president.
Senator J. William Fulbright encouraged alumni to create an active constituency for the Fulbright Program that would educate Congress and the public about the benefits of advancing increased mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. He wanted U.S. alumni to welcome and exchange ideas with Fulbrighters from abroad. Through our programs and advocacy campaigns, the Fulbright Association sustains these goals for future generations of Fulbright alumni and supporters.
Who are the Fulbright Alumni?
Fulbright alumni are leaders in every field and represent over 165 countries. They are global change-makers in politics, business, science, education, and the arts. Our ranks include 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 61 Nobel Prize laureates, 40 current or former heads of state or government, 76 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, and 16 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients.
Our alumni come from thousands of public and private universities in the United States and abroad. Fulbrighters are committed to advancing mutual understanding, tolerance, and peaceful relations worldwide.