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

ATLANTA, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Clark Atlanta University (CAU) 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.

"At Clark Atlanta University, our engagement with the Fulbright Program underscores our commitment to preparing scholars for a globalized world," said President George T. French, Jr., Ph.D. "This partnership enriches our academic community by providing invaluable opportunities for our students and faculty to engage in transformative educational experiences abroad. With the support of our dedicated Fulbright Program Adviser and Scholar Liaison, we have witnessed firsthand the profound impact these experiences have on our scholars, enabling them to broaden their horizons, foster international collaboration, and contribute meaningfully to the global discourse."

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.

"This year, Clark Atlanta University proudly receives recognition as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader for the first time," Dr. Charlene D. Gilbert, Provost and SVP for Academic Affairs at Clark Atlanta University. "The achievements of our faculty members and students who participated as Fulbright U.S. Scholars in France, Senegal, and South Africa, underscore our commitment to global engagement."

Dr. Gilbert adds, "Our success is supported by our Fulbright Scholar Liaison, Dr. Letoyia Starr-Irving, and Fulbright Program Advisers, Dr. Teri Platt and Dr. Mesfin Bezuneh, whose guidance has been vital in helping our students and faculty navigate the Fulbright application process. Together, we are preparing our scholars for success in a globalized world."

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. 

About Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation's first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation's first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Today, with nearly 4,000 students, CAU is the largest of the four institutions (CAU, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium. It is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. CAU offers a wide range of bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs in business, education, public administration, and social work and in innovative fields such as cyber-physical systems.

Notable alumni include: James Weldon Johnson, poet, and songwriter of Lift Every Voice and Sing "The Black National Anthem"; Ralph David Abernathy Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning Broadway Director; and Jacque Reid, Emmy Award-winning Television Personality and Journalist. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu.

SOURCE Clark Atlanta University