Lehigh University has achieved a remarkable milestone with all nine of its faculty applicants being awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for the 2026-27 academic year. This accomplishment underscores the university’s sustained engagement and success with the Fulbright Scholarship program, a testament to its commitment to global academic collaboration and excellence.
In addition to the faculty awards, two students and a student alternate have been recognized with the Fulbright, setting a new record for Lehigh with the highest number of recipients in a single cycle. Previously, the 2018-19 cycle marked a high with six scholars, while the last academic year saw five combined student and faculty recipients.
Bill Hunter, director of fellowship advising and UN Programs, expressed his pride, stating, “Our faculty are truly leaders in their fields, and the Fulbright Commission certainly recognized that this year.” Hunter further highlighted the expanding global influence of Lehigh, asserting confidence in the potential for even more faculty placements as Fulbright scholars in the future.
This year’s distinguished faculty recipients include Santiago Herrera, associate professor; Himanshu Jain, T.L. Diamond Distinguished Chair in engineering and applied science and professor of materials science and engineering; Johanna Kowalko, associate professor; Alberto J. Lamadrid, professor of economics and of industrial and systems engineering, director of the Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy; Jill McDermott, associate professor; Nik Nikolov, associate professor of architecture; Jessica Peng, assistant professor of anthropology and Asian studies; Muhannad T. Suleiman, professor of civil and environmental engineering and deputy director of the Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Engineering Research Center; and David Vicic, Howard S. Bunn Distinguished Professor of Chemistry.
The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange endeavor, has been promoting mutual understanding between the U.S. and over 160 countries since its inception in 1946. Annually, it supports around 9,000 participants, including students, scholars, teachers, and professionals worldwide, as noted on the Fulbright Program website.
Lehigh University boasts a robust history with the Fulbright Program, spanning more than two decades. This ongoing relationship has fostered numerous opportunities for academic and cultural exchanges.
Below is an overview of the faculty recipients and the work they will be undertaking during their Fulbright scholarships:
Santiago Herrera
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