The Fulbright Program

“The Fulbright program is a great way to learn more about international affairs and U.S. interests overseas. After finishing my Fulbright, I went on to complete a Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program Fellowship [which included an internship at the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee]. I was able to take all of my experience and translate it into a career as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State. It's important to remember that your unique experiences overseas allow you to form a knowledgeable perspective on foreign affairs,” says Fulbright alumna Sarah Brokenborough. As a 2016 #Fulbright U.S. Student English Teaching Assistant (ETA) to Laos, Brokenborough taught English to students and professionals and designed curricula incorporating American literature. In addition to teaching, she facilitated cultural exchanges at the U.S. Embassy Vientiane's American Center, collaborated with the embassy’s public affairs section to organize special events, and launched a mentoring program with Lao professionals and students. Outside the classroom, Brokenborough played field hockey and volunteered as a field hockey coach. Inspired by her Fulbright, she is now pursuing a joint PhD in in Art History and Latin American Studies Tulane University. If you’re considering a Fulbright, Brokenborough shares, “Be prepared to make incredible personal and professional connections overseas.” 🌍📚 📸 1. Sarah Brokenborough with teachers and students at the National School for Gifted and Ethnic Students, Vientiane, Laos. 2. Sarah Brokenborough as a 2018 Charles. B. Rangel Fellow completing a summer internship with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 3. Sarah Brokenborough with students at Patuxai in Vientiane, Laos.

Nobel laureate and Fulbright alumnus Dr. Milton Friedman was one of the most influential American economists of the twentieth century, known for his promotion of free markets and his contributions to the fields of consumption analysis, monetarism, and stabilization policy. 📚 A 1953 #Fulbright U.S. Scholar to the UK, Dr. Friedman spent a year at Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge, where he said he was “able greatly to profit from” bringing his theories into a new department and debating with colleagues on the theories of British economist John Maynard Keynes, founder of the Keynesian school of economics and a scholar of modern macroeconomic theory. After his Fulbright, Dr. Friedman authored several influential works that helped reshape economic thought, including Capitalism and Freedom (1962), and A Monetary History of the United States (1963, with economist Anna Schwartz), which analyzed the monetary causes of the Great Depression. One of his most popular works, A Theory of the Consumption Function, transformed economists’ understanding of the consumption function and influenced studies on consumer behavior. Dr. Friedman went on to be a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, leading what would become known as the “Chicago School” of economics. Shortly before he retired, Dr. Friedman was awarded the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. ➡️ Read more: https://bit.ly/3K0f8Nz US-UK Fulbright Commission

“Fulbright fosters an entrepreneurial spirit by placing participants in new environments where they must adapt, problem-solve, and build relationships,” says Fulbright alumna Patricia Garcia. 🌎 As a student at Florida International University's College of Engineering & Computing in 2019, Garcia came up with the idea to launch a marketplace to help college students buy and sell officially branded products while reducing textile waste. After graduation, Garcia received a 2023 Fulbright U.S. Student award to pursue a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship at UCL where she gained the business skills and global perspective to take her idea to the next level. Garcia further developed her business plan and won several awards at regional and international pitch competitions, and over $120,000 in investments. “Much like the scientific method, entrepreneurship involves forming a hypothesis, testing it, analyzing the results, and iterating based on what you learn.” Patricia’s journey reflects the power of pairing technical expertise with global insight. US-UK Fulbright Commission 📸 Patricia Garcia’s pitch for her venture “Unithrifts” won her the Global Student Entrepreneur Award for London.

As a 2023 #Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Panama, Nathaniel Sandoval introduced his students to U.S. history and heritage, the U.S. Constitution📖 and Independence Day.🎆 At the Specialized Superior Technical Institution in Panama, Sandoval taught students about the Declaration of Independence, the original thirteen colonies, and how Americans celebrate Independence Day - with fireworks and food. Sandoval also partnered with English teaching organizations and other universities in Panama City to broaden educational opportunities for students beyond the classroom. Reflecting on his experience, he notes, “It was an incredible experience representing the United States. Fulbright is something that will live with me for the rest of my life.” Since returning to the U.S., Sandoval has continued his work in education, supporting a nonprofit in Rhode Island, mentoring future Fulbrighters, and teaching in Japan through the 2025 Global English Camp. 🌏✨ #ConstitutionDay #CitizenshipDay #Fulbright #America250

How do history and ethics shape leadership in the age of data and AI? 🖥️ As a #Fulbright U.S. Student to Syria in 2006, Amin Venjara studied intellectual history and business ethics at the University of Damascus while developing his language skills in Arabic and Persian. After his Fulbright, he earned advanced degrees from Princeton University and University of California, Berkeley, and built a career as a business consultant, startup founder, and executive data leader at ADP, a global provider of cloud-based human capital management solutions. This summer, Amin received the Data100 Award, recognizing his leadership in responsible AI and data analytics. As Chief Data Officer at ADP, he leads enterprise-wide data, governance, AI platforms, and customer-focused product innovation strategy. His work has been featured in publications such as Fortune. 📸 Photo courtesy of ADP

Fulbright alumna Dr. Tamara Worlton is a U.S. Navy Captain whose research in trauma care is helping to strengthen America’s military readiness and improve global health systems. 🌐🏥 Dr. Worlton received a 2022 #Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to investigate trauma care in Sri Lanka and develop new academic collaborations. There, she studied the country’s systems for treating patients with traumatic injuries and helped to launch a trauma registry to focus on outcomes and long-term follow-up care. “Having the knowledge of how things happen in a resource-constrained setting is hugely important for me in the military,” says Dr. Worlton. “The Fulbright Program [and] what we do in defense health cooperation … what all of these countries do when we're working with other countries, is about building relationships.” Dr. Worlton is now stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where she is the Director of Global Surgery at the Uniformed Services University (USU), and Director of Surgical Operations at the USU Center for Global Health Engagement. USU trains students to serve as physicians in the U.S. Armed Forces, supporting military and public health systems and America’s national security priorities. 🔗Read more: https://lnkd.in/ey6djqzT U.S. - Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission 📸 1. U.S. Navy Captain Dr. Tamara Worlton. 2. Dr. Worlton presenting research at the Sri Lankan College of Military Medicine. 3. Dr. Worlton with Sri Lankan military and medical colleagues.

“Fulbright made possible an extraordinary and transformative year. I strengthened my musical voice, forged connections across cultures, and engaged in artistic collaborations that will continue to shape my work for years to come. I am grateful for the incredible support from the Fulbright Program, the Fulbright France Franco-American Commission, and to the cultural team at the Fondation des États-Unis.” - Dr. Natalie Darst Xia, 2024 #Fulbright U.S. Scholar to France 🌐🎻🎶 American Violinist Dr. Natalie Darst Xia has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player across the United States, France, and Switzerland. Through a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award, Dr. Xia had the opportunity to study with renowned violinist Régis Pasquier at the École Normale de Musique de Paris - Alfred Cortot, perform on a rare 1770 Gagliano violin, and curate twelve concerts across Paris and Fontainebleau. Dr. Xia also participated in the Franco-American cultural program as a resident at the Fondation des Etats-Unis and performed for diplomats and government leaders at events such as the centennials of Cité internationale universitaire de Paris and the U.S. Embassy’s Hôtel de Talleyrand 🏛️. A Boston University Doctor of Musical Arts graduate and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society inductee, Dr. Xia continues to promote Franco-American cultural exchange through her roles as Artist-in-Residence at the Fondation des Etats-Unis and Assistant Program Director at the Ecoles d'Art Américaines de Fontainebleau. 📸 1. Dr. Xia performing at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. 2. Dr. Xia with the Gagliano violin. 3. Fulbright U.S. Scholars Natalie Darst Xia, Dayton Hare, and Jonathan Bass pictured together. Fulbright France

Congratulations to the 2025 Fulbright-National Geographic Award recipients! 👏 ✨ Five #Fulbright U.S. Students will carry out projects around the world that support the protection of our planet’s land and oceans to build a better future: Amrit Tamang - Cultural Anthropologist to Nepal Kyrin Pollock - Arctic Marine Soundscape Researcher to Canada Taylor Bratton - Marine Conservationist to Tanzania Priya Talreja - Urban Planner to Portugal Katie Vyhnal - Mycologist to Malaysia Since 2013, the Fulbright Program has partnered with the National Geographic Society to provide support for Fulbright U.S. Students whose projects highlight powerful narratives about our natural world. In addition to joining nearly the 450,000 alumni of the Fulbright Program, they also join the community of National Geographic Explorers. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d6Pgi9fY National Geographic Society

Dr. Austin Downey, a mechanical engineering professor and 2024 #Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Sweden, is renowned for his innovative research on real-time systems and computational modeling. ⚙️📊 Dr. Downey’s work has been supported by United States Air Force, US Navy, and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and has been recognized through the Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research. The award, presented by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, acknowledged Downey’s patented bridge infrastructure sensors and his research on real-time machine learning for applications such as hypersonic aircraft and active blast mitigation systems. During his Fulbright, Dr. Downey collaborated with researchers in Sweden to develop smaller, faster microcontrollers for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in bridge inspections, maritime monitoring, and search and rescue operations at sea. Dr. Downey currently leads University of South Carolina’s Adaptive Real-Time Systems Laboratory (ARTS-Lab), an interdisciplinary research lab focused on developing tools and solutions that enable systems, such as aerospace structures and civil infrastructures, to adapt to their environments in real-time. Building on his Fulbright experience, he is developing a new multidisciplinary graduate certificate in battery engineering and technology. 🔗Read more about his work: https://lnkd.in/e5JaUcgz 📸 1. Dr. Downey receiving the South Carolina Governor's Award for Excellence in Scientific Research. 2. Dr. Downey attending the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm. 3. Dr. Downey working with a student in the lab.

Congratulations to #Fulbright alumna Eve Burton for being recognized on the 2025 Global Corporate Venturing Powerlist! 🎉✨ Each year, Global Corporate Venturing (GCV) honors the top 100 leaders in corporate venture capital worldwide for their exceptional influence, strategic leadership, and success in driving innovation and investment across industries. Burton earned this recognition for her outstanding leadership as co-founder and head of HearstLab, a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in early-stage, women-led startups. Burton’s leadership journey started when she was an undergraduate at Hampshire College. She was inspired to spend eight months at a Save the Children International women’s center in Thailand to support victims of the Vietnam War. “I didn’t think of it as leadership at the time,” said Burton in an interview with Fifth Dimensional Leadership, “That was the first time, I would say, that I identified my ability to organize, move, execute, complete, and I’m still in touch with many of those women today.” After graduating, Burton returned to Thailand as a Fulbright U.S. Student at Thammasat University in Bangkok. Since then, she has become a globally renowned leader in First Amendment law, investment, and global media, and the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Hearst. Burton secured HearstLab’s first $250,000 investment, and since its founding in 2016, the corporate venture capital arm has deployed more than $85 million across a portfolio valued at $2.5 billion. Burton’s career exemplifies the transformative power of international exchange. Learn more about her in Authority Magazine’s “Power Women” series: https://bit.ly/47TJ99s 📸 Photo courtesy of Hearst Corporation.