The 2024 honor from the U.S. Department of State recognizes Texas Tech as a leader in supporting Fulbright exchange participants and program opportunities on campus.
For the fourth straight year, Texas Tech University has been named a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
This designation recognizes Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) for their dedicated engagement with the Fulbright Program, the flagship international academic exchange program in the U.S., during the 2023-24 academic year. 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.
“For the fourth consecutive year, Texas Tech is honored to be recognized as a Fulbright HSI, reaffirming our dedication to fostering a global academic exchange that enriches both our campus and communities abroad,” said Ron Hendrick, provost and senior vice president. “This recognition reflects the ongoing efforts of our faculty, staff and students to engage in meaningful, cross-cultural collaborations that embody the Fulbright program’s mission of mutual understanding and shared knowledge.”
The 2024 Fulbright HSI Leaders were announced during the International Plenary Session of the annual conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities on Sunday (Nov. 3). Texas Tech is one of 29 doctoral universities and one of 51 colleges and universities to earn this recognition.
Texas Tech has been a part of the Fulbright program since 1957. Since that time, the university has had 179 faculty (six currently overseas) and 62 students participate. A record seven students were selected for this academic year. Since 1974, Texas Tech has hosted 52 Fulbright scholars from 36 countries across different disciplines.
“We are proud to continue fostering global engagement and providing our students and faculty the opportunity to become impactful global leaders through the Fulbright program,” said Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo, vice provost for International Affairs. “As a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution, we remain dedicated to supporting our Hispanic community and advancing international education as part of our mission to build a stronger, more inclusive global community.”
The recognized colleges and universities include seven associates colleges, five baccalaureate colleges and special focus institutions, 10 master’s colleges and universities as well as the doctoral university designations.
Texas Tech recently hosted its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. Mario Solís, a philosophy professor from the University of Costa Rica, was selected by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for the 2023-24 academic year.
“Fulbrighters from HSIs contribute to the program’s goal of reflecting the full diversity, perspectives and talents of the American people,” said Scott Weinhold, senior bureau official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
About the Fulbright Program
Since its inception almost 80 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchanging ideas and contributing to finding solutions to complex international 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 around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program.