Et cetera : Kirkwood Recognized as a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars

Kirkwood Community College has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of faculty and administrators selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends American scholars and professionals to approximately 130 countries each year to lecture and conduct research in various academic and professional fields. Kirkwood is being recognized as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars, in the Associate's Institution and Associate's/Baccalaureate category. Three scholars from the college were selected for Fulbright awards for the 2023-24 academic year, which ranks first among 17 two-year institutions. This year, Global Learning Associate Director Shannon Ingleby (Japan), Professor of English Language Acquisition Ryan Dehner (Mexico), and Professor of Electrical Engineering James Trepka (Saint Kitts and Nevis) were chosen.

According to Kirkwood Global Learning Dean Dawn Wood, the college is honored to have three well-deserving educators in the program.

"Kirkwood is thrilled to be recognized as the Top Producing Associate's Institution by Fulbright for this year," said Wood. "This honor is a tribute to the dedication of our faculty and professionals at Kirkwood who are committed to global learning for all of our Kirkwood community members. Their global experiences positively impact both our local and global communities."

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with 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's Top Producing Institutions represent the diversity of America's higher education community," said Lee Satterfield, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. "Dedicated administrators support students and scholars at these institutions to fulfill their potential and rise to address tomorrow's global challenges. We congratulate them, and all the Fulbrighters who are making an impact the world over."

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world, and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org/.

With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood Community College boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students, while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life. Kirkwood is a convenient, innovative and visionary educational leader that strives to remain affordable and accessible.