Fulbright Association Programs
Annual Conference - The Fulbright Association's annual conference is held each Fall and attracts alumni from throughout the U.S. and around the world. The conference provides an important forum for the discussion of international issues and developments in the field of international educational and cultural exchange. Federal officials, members of the private sector and representatives of international NGO's participate.
Chapters - 46 chapters throughout the U.S., organized and operated by alumni volunteers; chapters receive funds and support from the national office to conduct activities that provide educational and cultural programs serving Fulbrighters and their host communities.
Publications - The Fulbrighters' Newsletter covers legislative and policy developments affecting Fulbright exchanges; announcements of Fulbright competitions and deadlines; news from Fulbright alumni, chapters, and Fulbright alumni organizations abroad. Fulbright Association members receive a complimentary subscription.
Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal - The Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal honors Fulbright alumni whose distinguished careers and civic and cultural contributions have sought to expand the boundaries of human wisdom, empathy, and perception. Recipients of the Medal show exemplary commitments to creative leadership and liberal education. The inaugural medals were awarded in 2000 to Arlene Alda, Barbara Knowles Debs, and Richard A. Debs. Jean-Pierre Garnier, Thomas R. Pickering, and Ruth J. Simmons were medal recipients in 2002. Honored in 2005 were Rita A. Hauser, John Mendelsohn, and Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg. Craig R. Barrett, John Hope Franklin, and Shirley Strum Kenny were honored in 2007. Honored in 2009 were Rita Dove, Philip Glass, John D. Maguire and Ruth M. Owades.
International Fulbright Alumni Development Project - A joint project of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Fulbright Association, the will project 1) support the formation of new Fulbright alumni organizations in targeted countries--in most cases, countries without Fulbright Commissions or Foundations (please see, below, a list of targeted countries) and 2) help existing and forming associations improve operations. Specifically, the project will strengthen Fulbright alumni organizations' capacity to 1) support Fulbright Program goals; 2) serve alumni and current Fulbright grantees; and 3) increase knowledge sharing and relationship building among Fulbright alumni organizations internationally.
J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding - The Fulbright Prize, a $50,000 award made possible by The Coca-Cola Foundation, recognizes extraordinary contributions to increasing mutual understanding and cooperation among peoples. The Association awarded the inaugural Fulbright Prize to Nelson Mandela in 1993. Succeeding Fulbright Prize laureates are Jimmy Carter (1994), Franz Vranitzky (1995), Corazon C. Aquino (1996), V?clav Havel (1997), Patricio Aylwin Azcar (1998), Mary Robinson (1999), Martti Ahtisaari (2000), Kofi Annan (2001), Sadako Ogata (2002), Fernando Cardoso (2003), Colin L. Powell (2004), William Jefferson Clinton (2005) and Desmond M. Tutu (2008) .
Selma Jeanne Cohen Fund Lecture - The Fulbright Association administers the annual Selma Jeanne Cohen Fund lecture, a presentation on dance history or other area of dance scholarship.
Task Forces - The Association has task forces for networking among members interested in common areas. Currently active are the Arts, International Education, and Science & Environment Task Forces.
