AT LAST YEAR’S annual conference of the Fulbright Association that took place October 6-9, 2022 in Bethesda, Maryland, the Chicago Chapter was presented with the Program of the Year Award in recognition of their work with the Fulbright in the Classroom Program. At this conference, that drew over 300 attendees (the first conference in person after the pandemic,) Dr. Edel Jose, President of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association, accepted the award on behalf of the board and the chapter membership.
In August 2010, the Chicago Chapter established the “Bringing the World to the Classroom” initiative, where Fulbright awardees visited schools to deliver the Fulbright mission and shared their Fulbright experience. The Fulbright in the Classroom program has been an integral part of the chapter and its alumni, and during the pandemic, the Chicago Chapter was able to reach out further and promote the Fulbright Program with multiple schools and classrooms throughout each presentation in metropolitan Chicago, continuing with the program for over a decade.
The mission of Fulbright in the Classroom is to teach K-through-college students about other countries, helping them appreciate cultural differences, understand our common humanity, and see the value of travel and international education.
The conference also included a Virtual Art Exhibit that showcased 28 art projects (drawings, paintings, sculpture and photography) produced by Fulbright alumni across the country.
From our chapter, Columbia College Chicago Associate Professor Elio Leturia, who is also a Fulbright Chicago board member, presented his “Málaga Mondrian” mixed media piece that he developed as a side project during his recent Fulbright Senior Award in Spain. View the Virtual Exhibit online.
This piece (72 x 36.5 inches) was made with discarded materials to bring attention to recycling, which Leturia noticed to be an extended practice in Málaga.
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 