FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FULBRIGHT ASSOCIATION RENEWS STATEWIDE AFFILIATE IN MINNESOTA
Washington, DC (September 18, 2009) - The Fulbright Association announced today that it will hold elections for the Board of Directors of the statewide chapter in Minnesota. All interested Fulbright Association members in good standing may submit narrative bios and information about their reasons for seeking a leadership position with the Minnesota Chapter at http://tiny.cc/MinnesotaBoard.
Chapter elections follow a revitalization event hosted by the University of Minnesota on September 9. Christine Schulze, executive director of Concordia Language Villages; David Lesniaski, president of the Minnesota Chapter; and Noelle Said, Fulbright Association director, external relations, spoke to current and past Fulbrighters and friends from Burnsville, Collegeville, Delano, Duluth, Excelsior, Lauderdale, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, St. Paul and Wayzata. Among educational institutions represented were St. Catherine University, St. Cloud State University, St. Olaf College, University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas, and William Mitchell College of Law.
On September 9 and 10, Ms. Said and nine current and past Fulbrighters met staff of Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and of Representatives Michele Bauchmann, John Kline, and Betty McCollum in Burnsville, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Woodbury to discuss the Fulbright Program’s importance to Minnesota.
In a message to Minnesota Fulbright alumni, Rep. McCollum said, “The Fulbright Program helps promote international understanding and cultural learning between Americans and citizens of other countries. To all former, current and future Fulbrighters, I am very proud of the work you do to make a difference in the lives of others. Whether you are representing the United States of America or representing your country to the U.S., your contributions are invaluable. The work you do to advance education, research, and mutual understanding of cultures and religions truly benefits the global community. Thank you for making such a positive impact.” For more information on the Fulbright Program in Minnesota, please visit http://www.fulbright.org/minnesota/Fulbrighter_in_MN.pdf.
The Fulbright Program, an international educational exchange initiative, was created in 1946 by legislation sponsored by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The U.S. Department of State administers Fulbright exchanges between the United States and more than 150 other countries. There are more than 275,000 Fulbright alumni throughout the world.
The Fulbright Association is a private, nonprofit organization of Fulbright alumni and friends committed to advancing international education and people-to-people diplomacy. It has 46 other chapters throughout the United States and collaborates with more than 70 sister Fulbright alumni organizations abroad.
