UI named Fulbright Top Producing Institution for 10th year

The University of Iowa has again been named a Fulbright Top Producing Institutionamong doctoral institutions for the U.S. Student Program. This is the 10th year Iowa has earned this prestigious honor from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The university ranked 20thoverall nationally among doctoral institutions while boasting a remarkable 40% success rate-one of the highest applicant-to-awardee ratios in the country.

Being named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution highlights the UI's long-standing focus on global learning. A Fulbright award offers students and recent graduates the chance to live, study, or conduct research abroad while building skills and connections that shape their future careers.

Students and recent graduates who complete a Fulbright scholarship are more likely to have an edge in the job market and graduate school admissions. Scholars develop and demonstrate skills that are highly sought after in the job market, including critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and resourcefulness.

Iowa's recognition as a top doctoral institution for the past decade reflects the strength and ambition of Iowa's applicants and the support they receive from faculty and staff throughout the process.

"This is an incredible accomplishment for the University of Iowa," says Kristy Nabhan-Warren, UI associate vice president for research. "We are so fortunate to have such talented faculty and staff who work with our students and help position them for success. Our students are among an elite pool of Fulbright scholars who are highly effective educational and cultural ambassadors for our university, our state, and our country."

Since 1949, Iowa has had 335 Fulbright U.S. Student awardees. In the past 11 years alone, 174 Hawkeyes have earned this distinction, traveling to 51 countries. More than 40 faculty mentors, committee members, and staff support students through the Fulbright process each year.

"Through their devotion and commitment to academic work, service in the community, and extracurricular activities, these students have honed their abilities to stand out in a crowd of more than 10,000 applicants consistently, year after year," says Karen Wachsmuth, UI Fulbright Program advisor. "Our generous and supportive faculty members, many of whom have been awarded Fulbrights themselves, prepare our students to achieve this Fulbright designation, a sought-after credential that has propelled the stellar careers of more than 300 UI awardees."

Wachsmuth guides the Fulbright Program at Iowa through International Programs. Preparation for success starts long before students submit applications. Many recipients trace their journey to study-abroad experiences and encouragement from professors who taught their classes at Iowa, who encouraged them to take risks, explore the world, and apply.

"The greatest influence I have from the University of Iowa is Ronald McMullen from the Department of Political Science. His stories in class drove my passion to travel and see the world," says Noah LeFevre, who is teaching in Bulgaria after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in social studies education and political science in May 2025.

McMullen, an associate professor of practice, is UI's ambassador in residence who teaches a variety of courses on comparative politics, diplomacy, and international politics. He is a former career diplomat with more than 30 years' experience as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, including serving as ambassador to Eritrea in east Africa.

"UI students are curious about the world and seek to leave their mark in it," says Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs. "Fulbright awardees are among the UI's finest ambassadors. They exhibit the responsibility, expertise, and adaptability that represents the best of our state. Given the quality of our applicants, faculty mentors, and administrative staff, it is no surprise that Iowa has once again been named a Fulbright Top Producer. Ten years as a Top Producer speaks to a winning formula that our entire institution can be proud of."