The College of Staten Island is proud to be named as a Fulbright HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) Leader for 2024. Each year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recognizes select HSIs for their strong engagement with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program.

Fulbright HSI Leaders demonstrate noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and encourage administrators, faculty, and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright on campus. The Fulbright HSI Leaders Initiative also highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars. This is CSI’s fourth-straight year on this exclusive list.

“The College of Staten Island has established itself as a leader in international education, and we are proud to once again be named a top Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution.” said CSI President Timothy G. Lynch. “We are proud of our Fulbright award winners and our global academic reach and will continue to reinforce the study abroad and visiting scholar opportunities that the College provides its diverse student body.”

The Center for Global Engagement is honored to once again be awarded this distinction,” said Dr. Stephen Ferst, Director of the Center for Global Engagement. “The Center promotes the internationalization of academic life at CSI in order to foster an awareness of the interdependence of nations, the value of diversity, and the importance of international understanding. These values, which we work toward every day, align with Fulbright’s mission, and together, we are fostering a culture on campus that increases awareness and promotes peaceful relationships across the globe. This honor demonstrates to our international partners our commitment to these principles and to our mutual cooperation. Being recognized as a leader allows CSI to be evermore present on the world stage.”

The 51 recognized colleges and universities include seven associate’s colleges, five baccalaureate colleges and special focus institutions, ten master’s colleges and universities, and 29 doctoral universities.

The Fulbright HSI Leaders were announced during the International Plenary Session of the annual conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, commended the 2024 Fulbright HSI Leaders for their support of the Fulbright Program. Weinhold said, “Fulbrighters from HSIs contribute to the Program’s goal of reflecting the full diversity, perspectives, and talents of the American people.”  

Since its founding in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and in all fields with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex address global 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.

The Fulbright Program implements a wide range of initiatives to ensure that its participants reflect all aspects of the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. In addition to HACU, the Fulbright Program also cultivates relationships with external stakeholders, including the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Mobility International, among many others.

Learn more about Fulbright at www.fulbrightprogram.org, including Fulbright’s commitment to DEIA within the program and about how HSIs engage with Fulbright.

Follow the Fulbright Program’s social media accounts and Websites for highlights on HSIs and Fulbright: