Cal State LA has been named a Fulbright HSI Leader by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The university is among 43 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) selected for the designation, which recognizes noteworthy engagement and promotion of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.
Cal State LA was honored during an international plenary session at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) annual conference on Oct. 10 in San Diego.
“Our faculty and students have had deeply meaningful experiences through the Fulbright Program,” said William A. Covino, president of Cal State LA. “We’re committed to continuing our leadership so that others will be able to have the same.”
According to the Fulbright Scholar Directory, 119 Cal State LA faculty scholars have taught or conducted research abroad from 1950 through 2020, and 45 visiting scholars have conducted research at Cal State LA from 1996 through 2021.
In addition, nine Cal State LA students have participated in the U.S. Fulbright Student Program since 1975, according to the Fulbright Grantee Directory.
James Ford III, who was selected as a Fulbright Scholar during the 2020-2021 academic year, taught and shared his expertise at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa, from August 2021 to January 2022.
“The Fulbright to South Africa has changed my life forever,” said Ford. “It was an honor to share my teaching and performing philosophies. My goal was to help the students establish a strong music foundation that will give them access to more opportunities in their teaching and performing careers.”
At the HACU conference, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs Ethan Rosenzweig, speaking on behalf of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, thanked HSI leaders for their collaboration and for recognizing the value of the Fulbright Program.
He also commended current Fulbright participants and alumni from and hosted by HSIs for sharing “their expertise, experience, perspective and enthusiasm with their institutions, their communities and their societies.”
Since its inception over 75 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchanging ideas and contributing to finding solutions to complex international challenges.
For more information on the Fulbright Program, contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by e-mail at ECA-Press@state.gov.
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 26,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
Cal State LA is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, Billie Jean King Sports Complex and the TV, Film and Media Center. For more information, visit www.CalStateLA.edu.
