Claflin University Named Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader by the U.S. Department of State

Claflin University Named Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader by the U.S. Department of State

Claflin University is proud to be named as a Fulbright Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Institutional Leader for 2025. Each year, this initiative recognizes those HBCUs with exceptional engagement with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program.

Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders demonstrate noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and encourage administrators, faculty, and students at HBCUs to engage with Fulbright on campus. The Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders initiative highlights HBCU alumni and faculty excellence, as well as HBCUs as a destination for international students and scholars.

Claflin is new to the list this year. However, the University's prestigious distinction as a Fulbright Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Institutional Leaderunderscores Claflin's commitment to the University's vision of being a leading 21st Century institution of higher education that develops a diverse and inclusive community of globally engaged visionary leaders," said Dr. Annette Jackson, Claflin's director of Global Programs, Fulbright U.S. Scholar and Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador. She also serves as an associate professor of marketing.

"The Global Education Programs are thriving due to the widespread support of Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack and Provost Dr. Michelle L. Mayo," Jackson said. "Our success has been a "Team Claflin" effort that has produced a high level of interaction with Fulbright Programs."

Jackson supervised two teaching assistants at Claflin who participated in the Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA) Program that provides young teachers of English as a Foreign Language the opportunity to refine their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge of American cultures and customs while strengthening the instruction of foreign languages at colleges and universities in the United States.

Claflin's robust Global Education Program has expanded study and research abroad opportunities for faculty and students. Included are Memoranda of Understanding with reputable international higher education institutions in Italy (University of Florence); Ghana (University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology); Greece (Hellenic American University); Kenya (United States International University); Tokyo (Aoyama Gakuin University) and the United Kingdom (London Metropolitan University).

Claflin's Fulbright legacy includes its first Fulbright Scholar, Aundreta Conner, selected during her senior year in 2008. Amariyah Ayee, a 2022 graduate, served as a 2023 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in India. She became a 2025 Fulbright Alumni Ambassador.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals, of all backgrounds and in all fields, the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad.

Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex 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.

Learn more about the Fulbright Program at https://fulbrightprogram.org, including how HBCUs engage with the Fulbright Program.