The University of Iowa has once again secured its position as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for the U.S. Student Program among doctoral institutions. Marking its tenth year of receiving this accolade from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Iowa continues to shine in global education initiatives.
Learn more
For the 2025–26 academic year, 18 students from Iowa received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards. They will be heading to diverse destinations such as Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovakia, Spain, Taiwan, and Thailand. These students will be involved in teaching English and working on projects related to creative writing, geoinformatics, and psychology.
The Fulbright Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State with global partner support, boasts an impressive alumni network including 44 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 83 MacArthur Fellows.
Students and alumni interested in pursuing a Fulbright Award are encouraged to reach out to UI Fulbright Program Advisor Karen Wachsmuth for guidance on the application process.
Nationally, the university ranked 20th among doctoral institutions, boasting a notable 40% success rate, one of the highest applicant-to-awardee ratios in the nation.
The designation as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution underscores the University of Iowa’s commitment to fostering global learning. The Fulbright awards provide students and recent graduates opportunities to engage in international experiences that bolster career prospects and personal growth.
Those completing a Fulbright scholarship often gain an advantage in both the job market and graduate school admissions, demonstrating skills such as critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and resourcefulness.
Iowa’s decade-long recognition as a top doctoral institution reflects both the determination of its applicants and the robust support from faculty and staff. “This is an incredible accomplishment for the University of Iowa,” says Kristy Nabhan-Warren, UI associate vice president for research. “We are so fortunate to have such talented faculty and staff who work with our students and help position them for success. Our students are among an elite pool of Fulbright scholars who are highly effective educational and cultural ambassadors for our university, our state, and our country.”
Since 1949, 335 Fulbright U.S. Student awardees have hailed from Iowa, with 174 of them being recognized in the past 11 years alone, traveling to 51 countries. The Fulbright process at Iowa is bolstered by more than 40 faculty mentors, committee members, and staff annually.
“Through their devotion and commitment to academic work, service in the community, and extracurricular activities, these students have honed their abilities to stand out in a crowd of more than 10,000 applicants consistently, year after year,” states Karen Wachsmuth, UI Fulbright Program advisor. “Our generous and supportive faculty members, many of whom have been awarded Fulbrights themselves, prepare our students to achieve this Fulbright designation, a sought-after credential that has propelled the stellar careers of more than 300 UI awardees.”
Wachsmuth oversees the Fulbright Program at Iowa through International Programs, where preparation for success starts well before application submissions. Many recipients credit their journey to study-abroad experiences and encouragement from Iowa professors who inspired them to explore and apply.
“The greatest influence I have from the University of Iowa is Ronald McMullen from the Department of Political Science. His stories in class drove my passion to travel and see the world,” says Noah LeFevre, who is now teaching in Bulgaria after earning a Bachelor of Arts in social studies education and political science in May 2025.
McMullen, an associate professor of practice and UI’s ambassador in residence, brings over 30 years of U.S. Foreign Service experience, having served as ambassador to Eritrea in east Africa.
“UI students are curious about the world and seek to leave their mark in it,” says Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs. “Fulbright awardees are among the UI’s finest ambassadors. They exhibit the responsibility, expertise, and adaptability that represents the best of our state. Given the quality of our applicants, faculty mentors, and administrative staff, it is no surprise that Iowa has once again been named a Fulbright Top Producer. Ten years as a Top Producer speaks to a winning formula that our entire institution can be proud of.”
Read More Here
