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CONTACT: Noelle Said
(202) 347-5543

Washington, DC (July 1, 2009) - The Fulbright Association announced today that it will hold elections for the Board of Directors of a new statewide chapter in Iowa. All interested Fulbright Association members in good standing may submit narrative bios and information about their reasons for seeking a leadership position with the Iowa Chapter here.

Chapter elections follow an inaugural event hosted by the University of Iowa on June 29. Sally Mason, president of the University of Iowa, Downing Thomas, associate provost and dean of international programs, and Jane L. Anderson, Fulbright Association executive director, spoke to Fulbright alumni and friends from Ames, Bettendorf, Burlington, Des Moines, Fairfield, Hudson, Iowa City, North Liberty, Oxford, Waterloo, and Williamsburg. Among educational institutions represented were Drake University, Iowa State University, St. Ambrose University, Solon High School, Southeastern Community College and the University of Iowa.

“Our aim is for a university education or a higher education career to be transformative, and the Fulbright Program plays an important part in making that happen for many people…. I am very excited at the prospect of forming an Iowa Chapter…. I think that it’s about time that institutions in Iowa take advantage of the incredible Fulbright experiences our people have had and connect them together for continued mutual benefit for many years to come,” said President Mason.

“This meeting provided a strong foundation for our Iowa Chapter of the Fulbright Association, as we saw the commitment of Iowans from throughout the state and with a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds.owa colleges and universities host several dozen Fulbright students and scholars annually, and this chapter will not only support these visitors, but also provide more opportunities for our foreign Fulbright participants to share their backgrounds and experiences more widely,” said Scott E. King (Germany 1993, Japan 2002), the director of international students and scholars at the University of Iowa.

On June 30 Ms. Anderson and eight Fulbright alumni met staff of Senators Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin in Cedar Rapids and of Representative Dave Loebsack in Iowa City to discuss the Fulbright Program’s importance to Iowa.

In a message to Iowa Fulbright alumni, Representative Loebsack (Mexico 1983, Brazil 1987) said, “I believe programs that increase understanding and interactions between and among countries are a vital means to connect our graduates and students with the rest of the world….. The Fulbright Program is truly a beacon of light for many people around the world.” For the full text of his message and other information on the Fulbright Program in Iowa, please visit here.

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.