The University of New Mexico named Fulbright HSI Leader for the fourth year

November 3, 2024

The University of New Mexico (UNM) has been named a Fulbright HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) Leader for the fourth consecutive year. Each year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recognizes select HSIs for their strong engagement 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 encourage administrators, faculty, and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright on campus.  The Fulbright HSI Leaders Initiative also highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars. The University of New Mexico has been featured in each of the four years of the initiative.

“We are honored to continue to be recognized as a Fulbright Hispanic Serving Institution Leader,” said UNM President Garnett S. Stokes. “We are proud to promote global engagement and mutual understanding among nations, and I’m very proud of the Fulbright scholars and researchers we encourage and support at The University of New Mexico.

The 51 recognized colleges and universities include seven associate colleges, five baccalaureate colleges and special focus institutions, 10 master's colleges and universities, and 29 doctoral universities.

The Fulbright HSI Leaders were announced during the International Plenary Session of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) annual conference.

Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, commended the 2024 Fulbright HSI Leaders for their support of the Fulbright Program. Weinhold said, “Fulbrighters from HSIs contribute to the Program’s goal of reflecting the full diversity, perspectives, and talents of the American people.”

This marks the fourth year UNM has been given this designation. Over the past 10 years, UNM has had 31 students in 22 countries receive Fulbright awards, while 43 UNM faculty members in 32 countries received awards in the last decade.  

During the 2024-2025 academic year, two UNM faculty members are teaching and conducting research through the US Fulbright Scholar Program.

  • Catherine Rhodes (Anthropology) Project Title: El Lenguaje Vivo: An introduction to linguistic anthropology for Spanish speakers at Autonomous University of Yucatan in Mexico
  • Julianne Engberg (Writing) Project Title: UX+You: The Technical & Professional Communication Student’s Intro to Usability & User Experience at Tampere University of Applied Science in Finland

Last spring, four UNM students received Fulbright funding, including:

  • Katlin Riley, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Romania
  • Leo Williams, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Bulgaria 
  • Eleonora Edreva, Fulbright Research Award to Bulgaria
  • Devin Tankersley, Fulbright Research Award to Taiwan 

“The University of New Mexico's Fulbright HSI Leader designation for the fourth consecutive year reflects our commitment to global exchange and learning, Fulbright U.S. Students Program Advisor Kiyoko Simmons said. “This year, we are proud to have a record number of 19 applicants for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which highlights UNM's success in promoting global education.

“I want to express gratitude for the collaborative efforts of our faculty Fulbright alumni, who provide invaluable mentorship and guidance to students throughout the application process. Their dedication, along with the enthusiasm of our applicants, reinforces the university’s mission to expand international engagement and educational opportunities through the Fulbright program.”

Since its founding in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex address 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 worldwide 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. In addition to HACU, the Fulbright Program also cultivates relationships with external stakeholders, including the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Mobility International, among many others.

Learn more about Fulbright at www.fulbrightprogram.org, including Fulbright’s commitment to DEIA within the program and about how HSIs engage with Fulbright.