N.C. A&T Named 2024 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader by the U.S. Department of State

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 4, 2024) — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has been recognized as a 2024 Fulbright Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Institutional Leader. 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) established the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders initiative in December 2019 to recognize and commend the strong partnership between the Fulbright Program and HBCUs. N.C. A&T, part of the inaugural cohort of leaders, also was named an Institutional Leader for 2020-22.  

“A&T is home to some of the world’s brightest, most talented faculty and students across a myriad of disciplines from engineering, technology and agriculture to education, the arts, business and journalism,” said Tonya L. Smith-Jackson, Ph.D., provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “It’s extremely rewarding to see their scholarship efforts recognized yet again by the prestigious Fulbright program. Thanks to Fulbright awards, their work is having a profound and lasting impact on our students and communities as well as statewide, nationally and globally.” 

This recognition was announced in advance of the 2024 Annual National HBCU Week Conference hosted by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs. 

“The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Program are committed to reflecting the full diversity of the United States,” said Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, emphasizing that HBCU engagement with the Fulbright Program helps to accomplish this goal and “builds meaningful relationships between communities and people around the world.” 

“North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s designation as a 2024 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader is a testament to the institution's dedication to promoting global engagement and international understanding,” said U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. 

Tonjia May, director of budget services and project management in the Department of Research and Economic Development, has been A&T’s Fulbright Scholar Liaison for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program since February 2021. Alsace-Lorraine Gallop, A&T’s national scholarships and fellowships coordinator, has been A&T’s Fulbright Program Adviser (FPA) for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program since October 2018. 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and in all fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbright participants exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.  

Many A&T faculty, staff, students, and alumni have received national distinctions with and funding from the Fulbright Program since fall 2022, including: 

• Solomon Bililign, Ph.D., professor of physics in the College of Science and Technology, 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award recipient 

• Kimberly Tyson, director of the Office of International Affairs, 2024-25 Fulbright International Education Administrators award recipient 

• Yudan Chen Wang, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Education, 2023 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award recipient 

• Maranda McBride, Ph.D., director of the Center for Advanced Transportation Mobility, 2022-23 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award recipient 

• Maya Odom ‘24, 2024 Fulbright U.S. Program grant semifinalist 

• Malachi Williams ‘24, 2024 Fulbright U.S. Program grant semifinalist 

• Nasya Blackwell ’20, 2023-24 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee YoVanna Solomon ’18, 2023-24 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee Joanna Martinez ’20, 2023 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni Ambassador and 2021-22 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee 

• Alexandra Hauke ’19, 2022 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni Ambassador and 2019-20 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee 

• Malique Brunner ‘19, ‘20, 2021-22 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee 

• Joanna Martinez ‘20, 2021-22 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee 

• Anderlyn Smith ’21, 2021-22 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alternate 

• Emmanuel Johnson Dorley ‘13, 2016 and 2021 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni Ambassador and 2013 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee — A&T’s first Fulbright Program grantee who last week was elected to the Fulbright National Board of Directors. 
• Paula Faulkner, Ph.D., professor in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 2010 Fulbright-Hays Scholar

In addition, A&T has hosted international faculty and researchers such as Fulbright Visiting Scholar Mahesh Kumar Joshi, Ph.D., from Nepal who is working with A&T’s Narayan Bhattarai, Ph.D. who is hosting Joshi as his faculty associate through December 2024. 

The Fulbright Program implements a wide range of initiatives to ensure that its participants reflect all aspects of the diversity of U.S. and global societies.  

The program also cultivates relationships with external stakeholders, including the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Mobility International, among many others.