History and Introduction of the Fulbright Program

J.William Fulbright grew up in Fayetteville, attended and graduated from the UA and then accepting a Rhodes Scholarship to study abroad in Pembroke College at Oxford. After law school and working in Washington, he returned to the UA as a faculty member and the President prior to becoming the US Representative and ultimately Senator. His academic and international experiences had a profound effect on Fulbright.

In 1946, he introduced legislation to create the Fulbright Exchange of Scholars program. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Annually, the Fulbright program awards scholarships to approximately 1600 US students pursing graduate studies (MS, MA, PHD, etc.) and 1200 US Scholars (staff and faculty) for research, teaching, outreach, and continuing education. Approximately 4000 foreign scholars attend US higher education institutions and an additional 900 visiting scholars (faculty) receive awards in addition to several hundred teachers and professionals. Approximately 390,000 Fulbrighters have participated in the program since its beginning. The Fulbright Program currently operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

The University has a long, rich heritage of Fulbright scholars having more than 40 faculty and staff having received Fulbright fellowships, scholarships or grants, and annually hosting 40-50 inbound Fulbright students and scholars.

Fulbright Scholars Program

Fulbright Student Programs
Emily Wright
Senior Assoicate Director
Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
HUNT 232
evoight@uark.edu
479-575-8673
Fulbright Scholars (Faculty) Programs
Fran Hagstrom
Associate Dean
Graduate School and International Education
GEAR 213
fhagstr@uark.edu
479-575-8673