Reed College Named Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students and Scholars

Four Reed students and two faculty and administrators were selected for Fulbright awards in the 2023–24 academic year.

February 13, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

PORTLAND — Today, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized Reed College for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students, faculty and administrators selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student and Fulbright U.S Scholar Programs. Fulbright Top Producing Institutions like Reed College value global connection and support members of their campus communities to pursue international opportunities.

 Four students and two faculty and administrators from Reed College were selected for Fulbright awards for the 2023–24 academic year. Reed College is one of only 12 institutions nationwide to be named a top producer of both Fulbright Students and Scholars. Reed is in the top six institutions for Fulbright Scholars and in the top 49 institutions for Fulbright Students. This is the first time Reed College has been named a top producer for both scholars and students simultaneously, but it is the fifth time Reed College has been honored for Fulbright Scholars and the fifth time for Fulbright Students.

 The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange 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. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.

 “We are honored to be recognized as a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and Students,” said Reed College President Audrey Bilger. “Congratulations to the winners of these remarkable awards. I have been impressed by the quality and breadth of the scholarship and am delighted by the opportunities for students to engage with and better understand communities around the world.”

 Reed College’s Center for Life Beyond Reed works with students and recent graduates to encourage them to apply for these prestigious awards and supports them through the application process. Several faculty have earned Fulbrights to pursue research in areas ranging from mathematics to archaeology to humanities and many areas in between.

 “Fulbright’s Top Producing Institutions represent the diversity of America’s higher education community. Dedicated administrators support students and scholars at these institutions to fulfill their potential and rise to address tomorrow’s global challenges. We congratulate them, and all the Fulbrighters who are making an impact the world over,” said Lee Satterfield, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

 Tamara Metz, associate dean of the faculty, serves as the Scholar liaison to the Fulbright Program. Student and alumni applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at Reed College are supported by the Faculty Fellowships & Awards committee, along with the Center for Life Beyond Reed advising team. In particular, students work with the campus’s two Fulbright Program Advisers Shania Siron, assistant director of advising, and Nate Martin '16, associate director of data & systems, who manages operations behind the scenes and the relationship between Reed and the Fulbright Program, with support from Sarah Schwiebert, administrative coordinator.

“Over the years, we have observed about 9% of each senior class apply to this one fellowship alone, and its values have proven to be strongly aligned to our liberal arts academic model,” Siron said. “It is exciting to be named a top-producing institution once again, the first time since the 2020-21 academic year.”  

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.  

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org/ 

About Reed College

Founded in 1908 in southeast Portland, Oregon, Reed College is a coeducational, independent liberal arts and sciences college. Referred to as one of the most intellectual colleges in the country, Reed is known for its high standards of scholarly practice, creative thinking, and engaged citizenship.

Contact

Sheena McFarland, Executive Director of Public Affairs & Communications, Reed College

smcfarland@reed.edu; Cell: 801-510-5567