The U.S. Department of State named Fordham University a top producer of Fulbright students for a second consecutive year at the end of last month. Fulbright students typically apply for a year of graduate study or research abroad, or they can become an English Teaching Assistant (ETA). 

Lorna M. Ronald, Ph.D., director of the Office of Fellowship Advising, advises Fordham students interested in applying. Approximately 400 scholarships are awarded annually by the Fulbright Scholars Program in over 135 countries. A directory of scholars is available on the U.S. Fulbright Program website. 

“Students apply for a Fulbright award as soon as the beginning of senior year,” said Ronald. “In the application, you need to make the case for why you are the right person to go to [a] particular country to teach English or pursue a project you identify [with].” 

The Fulbright program has selected 26 Fordham students over the last two years, which Ronald says is not a coincidence. 

“We have a supportive community and a robust advising process,” said Ronald. “Students meet with us all through the summer on essay drafts, and they also work with faculty mentors, often experts in the region or field, to ensure that their proposals make sense.” 

Fordham has had Fulbright awardees for quite some time. “Now, we do more outreach to make sure that everyone who is a US citizen knows they can apply,” Ronald said when asked about Fordham’s history with the program. “It’s not just for the 4.0 students, although we do of course welcome them as well!” 

Fordham has plans for the future to ensure the program is effective in the future, attracting students to pursue their academic goals further.

“We aim to keep improving our visibility, to make sure that all students know we’re here to think with them about their plans and goals and help them find great opportunities to apply for,” said Ronald.

In February, the State Department paused all of its spending for review, this included Fulbright spending. Currently, Fulbright scholars are receiving reduced stipends with no clear timeline of when full funding will be resumed. It is unclear how this cut will affect Fordham Fulbright recipients.