Jarvis Christian University is proud to share that it has been recognized as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader for 2024, a prestigious honor highlighting JCU’s commitment to fostering international language and cultural education for students—whether they study abroad or experience it on campus.
2024 marks the third consecutive year that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has recognized Jarvis for its strong engagement with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. Jarvis Christian University was also named a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader in 2022 and 2023.
Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders like Jarvis Christian University have demonstrated noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and have promoted Fulbright program opportunities on campus. The designation also highlights the strength of HBCUs as a destination for international students and scholars and showcases their deep intellectual traditions and proud history to audiences abroad.
Jarvis is hosting two Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) this year as part of its commitment to providing international language and cultural education to their students, whether they travel abroad or not.
“Jarvis Christian University is honored to host Fulbright Scholars from abroad for their impact in sharing their languages, expertise, and cultures with us throughout the academic year,” said Jarvis President Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt. “Our students have benefitted from taking language classes in Arabic, Mandarin, and Swahili these past two years, and our alumni, faculty, and staff enjoy engaging with the Fulbright Scholars to make their time a true cultural exchange.”
Jarvis welcomed three Fulbright Scholars from Taiwan, Tanzania, and Tunisia in 2021, from Morocco and Kenya in 2022, from Egypt, Kenya, and Taiwan in 2023, and from Tanzania and Egypt for the 2024-2025 academic year
The announcement of the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders was made on September 10, 2024 in advance of the 2024 Annual National HBCU Week Conference hosted by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken congratulated each HBCU Institutional Leader, saying this designation “is a testament to your institution’s dedication to promoting global engagement and international understanding.”
Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, emphasized that HBCU engagement with the Fulbright Program helps to accomplish this goal and “builds meaningful relationships between communities and people around the world.”
“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,” Weinhold said.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals, of all backgrounds and in all fields, the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.
The Fulbright Program implements a wide range of initiatives to ensure that its participants reflect all aspects of the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. The Program also cultivates relationships with external stakeholders, including the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Mobility International, among many others.
Learn more about the Fulbright Program at https://fulbrightprogram.org, including Fulbright’s commitments to DEIA within the program and about how HBCUs engage with the Fulbright Program.
Follow the Fulbright Program’s social media accounts and websites for highlights:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fulbright
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FulbrightPrgrm
Instagram: http://instagram.com/the_fulbright_program
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fulbright
Announcement by the Secretary of State: https://www.fulbrightprogram.org/hbcu/
Media Note listing Jarvis as a Fulbright Institutional Leader: https://www.state.gov/department-of-state-honors-19-colleges-and-universities-as-fulbright-hbcu-institutional-leaders/
Jarvis provides a culturally rich educational environment where students are empowered to achieve their career goals through an inclusive and diverse academic experience that prepares them for a life of significance. Whether a student is a recent high school graduate or a working adult seeking career advancement, Jarvis Christian University develops its students intellectually, socially, spiritually, and personally.
