DeDe Long

1946 Society Member Alison Gardy honored DeDe at the October 2022 1946 Society Luncheon with the following text: 

I am honored to present this award to DeDe Long on behalf of Michael DeLucia, who nominated DeDe for this honor and is unable to be with us in person today. 1946 Society member DeDe Long embodies the Fulbright Association mission of extending the Fulbright tradition through service.

DeDe’s career in international education spans decades and includes exemplar leadership of the University of Arkansas’ Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange. At the University of Arkansas, DeDe served as the Fulbright campus program advisor for 25 years and received a Fulbright International Administrators grant to Germany in 2006. In 2016, when DeDe won the Hoyt H. Purvis Award for Service in International Education, fellow 1946er Hoyt Purvis shared that “DeDe has put the University of Arkansas on the world map with her tireless efforts and unwavering dedication. No one has done more to establish and nurture study abroad and international education at this university.”

A member of the Fulbright Association Board of Directors since 2018, DeDe served as Board Chair beginning in January 2020. Despite that unforeseen challenge of leading during a global pandemic, DeDe’s leadership strengthened our Association. She embraced best practices and helped all board members serve with efficiency, transparency, and accountability. She helped the Association to work towards greater diversity and inclusion, in part by establishing a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, which has become a standing committee.

DeDe steered the board through a new strategic plan with specificity and benchmarks, adopted to focus development and identify vulnerabilities. While the Fulbright Prize was awarded to Bono this year, DeDe helped establish a new foundation for the Prize event by empowering talented people to work together towards a common goal.

DeDe is the first to credit others, but today we honor DeDe, whose vision helped our organization become what it is today. For her vision, leadership, and service, we recognize DeDe Long as a 2022 1946 Society Member of the Year.

DeDe’s Biography 

DeDe Long lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas and has enjoyed a long career in international education at the University of Arkansas, celebrated as the home of the late Senator J. William Fulbright.  She retired in July 2019 as Emeritus Director of the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange. She received a Fulbright International Administrators grant to Germany in 2006.

DeDe grew up in Denver, Colorado. She completed her B.A. in Comparative Religion at Bowdoin College and her M.Ed in Higher Education Administration at the University of Arkansas.  Over a 40 year span, she created new positions in foreign student advising, foreign credential evaluation, international admissions, sponsored student programs, study abroad, and international exchange partnerships.  She served as the Fulbright campus program advisor (FPA) for 25 years.

DeDe has been recognized multiple times for her professional accomplishments, most recently being awarded Life Membership in May 2019 by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Her service to NAFSA includes participation at the state, regional and national level, most notably serving as Annual Conference Chair (2015), Vice President for Public Policy and Practice and member of the Board of Directors (2008-2010). She was selected as NAFSA’s Advocate of the Year Award (2012) and recognized by the State of Arkansas (2019) and NAFSA Region III for Outstanding Service to International Education (2011).

On the University of Arkansas campus, DeDe was named Employee of the Year (2007-2008) and was the very first recipient of the Hoyt Purvis Award for Service to International Education (2016).  She has been recognized by multiple colleges and units across campus for distinguish leadership and service.

DeDe is very active with the Arkansas Chapter of the Fulbright Association.  She continues to host visitors from the Fulbright global community who come to the University of Arkansas to learn more about the life of Senator Fulbright and conduct research in the University Libraries Special Collections which houses the Fulbright papers along with other significant archives related to international educational exchange.