Bennett College implements the Fulbright program annually to provide international education for students and support exchange participants.
The annual recognition marks Bennett College’s fifth consecutive year of receiving recognition for its engagement with the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. “Receiving the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader designation for the fifth year is a testament to Bennett College’s commitment to supporting an environment of cultural exploration for our students and faculty, which ties into our strategic pillar of being Open To and For the Future,” Bennett College President Suzanne Elise Walsh, J.D., stated in a press release.
Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders support exchange students while motivating students and faculty to engage with the program and welcoming international students to HBCU campuses. The designation is a testament to Bennett College’s “dedication to promoting global engagement and international understanding,” according to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.
Bennett College has implemented the Fulbright program by hosting two Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs). The annual effort expands on international language and cultural education for students. “Having a class with a FLTA is ‘the first taste of the world’ for many of our students,” Walsh said. In addition to teaching languages, FLTAs provide cultural programming and introduce opportunities for students to study abroad, although they can choose to remain local.
Initiatives through the Fulbright Program expand diversity in the U.S. and abroad. “The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Program are committed to reflecting the full diversity of the United States,” said Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “Historically Black Colleges and Universities are vital contributors to America’s higher education community. They are dedicated institutions working to develop the leaders of tomorrow.”
External stakeholders of the Fulbright include the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and others.
RELATED CONTENT: Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. Officially Installed As Grambling State President
Source: Black Enterprise
