Austin College Named Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader by the U.S. Department of State
SHERMAN, TEXAS — Austin College is proud to be named as a Fulbright HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) Leader for 2023. Each year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recognizes the strong engagement of select HSIs with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program.
Fulbright HSI Leaders demonstrate noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and promote Fulbright program opportunities on campus. The initiative encourages administrators, faculty and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright and highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars. Austin College is new to the list this year.
Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield commended the 46 institutions receiving the Fulbright HSI Leader designation this year. “Representation matters and pairing the world-class educational opportunities that Hispanic-Serving Institutions provide with the power of Fulbright further enriches the experience and educational opportunities for students and scholars both at home and abroad,” Satterfield said.
Dr. Patrick Duffey, Ph.D., Austin College Professor of Spanish and Margarett Root Brown Chair of Foreign Languages and Literatures said, “Austin College has participated in four Fulbright programs for many years: we have hosted international Fulbright scholars; our own faculty have been selected for the Fulbright Scholars Program; each year, Austin College hosts Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants from Latin America, Spain, France, and/or Germany; finally, 45 Austin College students have received US Student Fulbright Research and English Teaching Assistant Awards. Austin College students have had success as applicants in part because of Austin College’s attention to each individual student, as well as its vibrant language and study abroad programs. In fact, since 1994, Austin College has produced more Fulbrights per capita than any institution in Texas.”
Julián Coronado, Austin College alumnus (’19) who traveled to Germany for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship, added, “AC does a fantastic job of making students from all kinds of backgrounds feel included. Being Hispanic, I was of course drawn to the Hispanic/Latino club Los Amigos as soon as I heard about it. I remember going to the first welcome meeting and being surprised that it wasn’t just people who looked like me at the meeting, but people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds. I think it was at that moment I realized what it meant to be a part of an inclusive and loving community with everyone wanting to get a little taste of each other’s cultures.”
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.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.