American University was named a top producer for the 2025–26 Fulbright U.S. Student Program today by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. A record-breaking 16 Eagles received Fulbright U.S. student grants for the current academic year, bringing the university’s all-time total to 284. This marks the 10th time since 2012 that AU has been named a “top producer.”

Fulbright Top Producing Institutions—including AU—value global connection and encourage and support members of their campus communities across the country to pursue international opportunities.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a top producer for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program,” said Paula Warrick, senior director of the Career Center’s Office of Merit Awards. “It is an impressive achievement that demonstrates our students’ engagement in global affairs and their commitment to ongoing person-to-person diplomacy around the globe. It is also testament to the hard work of the many dedicated faculty members and the AU merit awards team who help our students to achieve this important opportunity.”  

Among AU’s Fulbright alumni are Julian Chehirian, who cocreated Bulgaria’s pavilion at the 60th annual Venice Biennale; Stacy Aldinger, chief of staff, strategy, and transformation at CARE; Ariana Curtis, curator, National Museum of African American History and Culture; Alison Shott, senior advisor, community capital and capacity at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia; and Douglas Keillor, executive director, Juvenile Justice Advocates International.  

AU’s Office of Merit Awards offers the university’s Fulbright applicants robust support, including personalized one-on-one counseling and a dedicated spring workshop series. Students can stay informed on the latest program updates and deadlines through the office’s social media and online platforms. 

The Fulbright is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program, sponsored by the Department of State to foster global connection. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide significant direct and indirect support to the program.

Since its founding in 1946, the Fulbright Program has empowered more than 400,000 students, scholars, artists, and professionals to foster global connection through international research, study, and teaching. This elite alumni network includes 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and 90 Pulitzer Prize winners—all dedicated to building mutual understanding between the United States and the world.  

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