(Back row, left to right) Kelly Rivera, Diana Heise, Cameron Kruse, MaSovaida Morgan, Paul Bostrom, Lauren Gaydosh, Carlos Rivas, Samuel Gordon, Giuseppe Cespedes, Jacob Vidourek, Sharief El-Gabri, Rebecca Littman-Smith, Alexis Schmidt, Janice Feng, Kia Hall; (front row, left to right), Mario Hoang Nguyen, Alyssa Meyer, Kevin Fomalont, A. Hameto Benkreira, Michael Young; (not pictured) Arienne Jones
On Friday, December 6, 21 newly-selected 2014 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni Ambassadors met in Washington, DC to receive training on how to promote and recruit for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Staff members from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education (IIE), along with previous Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors, shared tips on giving an effective presentation and emphasized the unique, important role that Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors play in inspiring diverse students, Fulbright Program Advisers, college administrators – and anyone interested in the program – to learn more about it and the power of educational and cultural exchange.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Alumni Ambassador Program was established in 2008 to identify, train and engage a select group of approximately 15-25 Fulbright U.S. Student Program alumni to serve as representatives, recruiters and spokespersons for the Fulbright Program. They are selected annually through recommendations from Fulbright Commissions, U.S. Embassy staff, area managers, the Fulbright Student Program Outreach Division and approved by the Fulbright Program’s sponsor, ECA. Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors come from an array of different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, states, fields of study, institutions and have participated in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in all world areas.
Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors represent the program’s rich diversity and play a key role in increasing knowledge about Fulbright opportunities. They provide testimonials about their Fulbright experiences at conferences and campus presentations, and offer application tips in written articles, video and podcast interviews, webinars and at special events throughout the United States. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program relies on the Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors to share with potential applicants what the Fulbright experience is really like and how to successfully address the challenges of living abroad while meeting the Fulbright Program’s ultimate goal – to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
Here’s a preview of the 2014 Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors:
A. Hameto Benkreira
Current City: Washington, DC
Tufts University
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Indonesia, 2011-2012
Paul Bostrom
Current City: San Francisco, California
Johns Hopkins University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Energy – Norway, 2012-2013
Giuseppe Cespedes
Current City: Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Brazil, 2011-2012
Sharief El-Gabri
Current City: Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Michigan
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Jordan, 2010-2011
Janice Feng
Current City: Washington, DC
Marist College
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Malaysia, 2011-2012
Kevin Fomalont
Current City: Broomhall, Pennsylvania
Emory University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Biology – Russia, 2012-2013
Lauren Gaydosh
Current City: Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Sociology – Tanzania, 2012-2013
Samuel Gordon
Current City: Jupiter, Florida
Cornell University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Anthropology – Morocco, 2010-2011
Kia Hall
Current City: Washington, DC
American University
Fulbright U.S. Student in International Relations – Honduras, 2011-2012
Diana Hiese
Current City: Kansas City, Missouri
Vassar College
Fulbright U.S. Student in Performance Art – Mauritius, 2011-2012
Arienne Jones
Current City: River Ridge, Louisiana
Spelman College
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Spain, 2012-2013
Cameron Kruse
Current City: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Pepperdine University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Biology – India, 2012-2013
Rebecca Littman-Smith
Current City: Portland, Oregon
University of Oregon
Fulbright U.S. Student in Architecture – Finland, 2010-2011
Alyssa Meyer
Current City: Bloomington, Indiana
Michigan State University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Energy – Kyrgyzstan, 2012-2013
MaSovaida Morgan
Current City: Savannah, Georgia
At-Large, Georgia
Fulbright U.S. Student in Communications – United Kingdom, 2012-2013
Mario Hoang Nguyen
Current City: Plano, Texas
Western Kentucky University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Business – Mexico, 2012-2013
Carlos Rivas
Current City: Chicago, Illinois
Claremont McKenna College
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Argentina, 2012-2013
Kelly Rivera
Current City: Bronx, New York
St. Johns University
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Malta, 2012-2013
Alexa Schmidt
Current City: Portland, Oregon
At-Large, Vermont
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Bangladesh, 2011-2012
Jacob Vidourek
Current City: Norman, Oklahoma
Tennessee Technological University
Fulbright U.S. Student in Musicology – Austria, 2010-2011
Michael Young
Current City: Staten Island, New York
College of Staten Island
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Spain, 2011-2012
1 Comment
Glad to see that many new talents to promote this unique and tremendous program. Wish you all the best of success!