Western Named a 2019-20 Top Producer for Prestigious Fulbright Scholarships

Western Washington University was named a top national producer for Fulbright Scholarship winners in the 2019-2020 school year, according to a just-released ranking from the Chronicle of Higher Education and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Western produced five student Fulbright winners in this time period, placing it tied for fifth nationally among masters-granting institutions, and was again ranked highest in the Pacific Northwest in its category. Western also produced three Fulbright scholars – faculty or staff members who were awarded the prestigious scholarship – which was third in the nation in its category.

“We’re excited to once again be included among the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars, and extremely proud of the students who have received these awards,” said Western’s president, Sabah Randhawa. “The convergence of academic excellence, a desire to learn from others, and a commitment to making an impact in the world encapsulates the spirit that so many of our students and faculty bring to Western.  We know that the exchanges that Western’s Fulbright Scholars will engage in will enrich their lives and the lives of others for years to come.”

Tom Moore, director of Western’s Fellowships Office, said the ranking again shows the excellence of the university’s students.

“Once again, WWU has been designated a ‘Top Producer’ of young Fulbright scholars.  This marks the seventh time in the last eight years that WWU has been given this honor,” he said.  

The Fulbright Program is a prestigious international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.  Fulbrights have enabled nearly 300,000 participants to travel abroad to study, teach, conduct research and exchange ideas to foster understanding between Americans and people of other countries.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 370,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.

For more information, contact Moore at Western’s Fellowships Office at (360) 650-4074 or go to http://www.wwu.edu/fellowships/about.shtml.