UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has tied for second in the nation in faculty Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards and is a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Student Awards among doctoral institutions for the 2024-25 academic year. Twelve Penn State faculty and 10 students received Fulbright awards from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, as reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education on Feb. 25.
Penn State is one of 13 doctoral institutions nationally to be named a top producer of both Fulbright scholars and students for 2024-25. Overall, 130 institutions were listed as Fulbright top producers this year.
“Our faculty of all backgrounds and fields of study leave an indelible mark on their host countries through their teaching and research experiences, gaining knowledge and global perspectives that they in turn bring back to Penn State to enrich our community and the educational experiences of our students," said Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost. “Penn State’s consistently high number of Fulbright Scholar awards year after year is a testament to the outstanding quality of our faculty and the support they receive.
“In addition, our Fulbright students took their talents and passions to nine different countries this year to build international networks and collaborate across diverse communities,” Langkilde continued. “Whether they are conducting research or teaching English, the cross-cultural exchange benefits both Penn State and the host communities.”
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards
Penn State’s 12 faculty Fulbright recipients in 2024-25 tied for second nationally with the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of Florida. The University has consistently been a top producer for Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards, ranking first in 2019-20, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Penn State announced its faculty Fulbright award recipients for 2024-25 in October.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. It also is among the largest and most diverse exchange programs in the world. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbright recipients exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.
The Fulbright competition is administered at Penn State through the Faculty Fulbright office, led by Faculty Fulbright Adviser Sylvester Osagie. The University sponsors discipline-based panels, which help to support faculty applications for Fulbright awards and have played a significant role in Penn State’s status as a Fulbright top producer for more than a decade running.
“Penn State is consistently among the top senders of Fulbright scholars and students, which speaks to the level of global engagement across our University and the exceptional achievements of our faculty, staff and students,” said Sabine Klahr, interim vice provost for Penn State Global. “Receiving one of these prestigious awards not only demonstrates outstanding academic scholarship and abilities, but also a willingness to be immersed in other cultures and move beyond one’s comfort zone, serve as ambassadors for the U.S., and contribute to cultural understanding and therefore, to building a more peaceful world. I applaud the tenacity and strong character it takes to do this.”
Fulbright U.S. Student Awards
Penn State also ranked among the top producers of U.S. Fulbright Student Awards, with 10 student recipients who have earned funding to study, conduct research and teach abroad during the 2024-25 school year.
Recipients are selected based on their academic and professional achievement, as well as their record of service and leadership potential.
Penn State announced the recipients of Fulbright Student Awards for 2024-25 last May.
Recipients were supported by staff at Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring and 30 faculty who helped to mentor students through the-campus feedback and interview process.
About the U.S. Fulbright Awards Program
The Fulbright Program was established more than 75 years ago to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries. While the primary source of funding for the program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, it also benefits from additional support from foreign partner governments, nongovernmental organizations, private organizations, corporate partnerships and individual donors. United States and foreign host institutions provide support as well.
Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors and the world, and have included 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and many leaders and changemakers who work to build mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit fulbrightprogram.org.
For more information about how to apply for a Fulbright experience, visit Penn State’s Faculty Fulbright webpage or contact Sylvester Osagie at fulbright@psu.edu.
For more information on Fulbright opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, contact Penn State Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring at urfm@psu.edu.