University Earns More Fulbright Awards Than Any Other HBCU This Year

For the sixth consecutive year, Morgan State was named a “Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader.” This designation was created by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in the State Department in 2019 to recognize HBCUs that meaningfully engage with the Fulbright Program, from receiving awards to hosting Visiting Fulbright Scholars. In 2025, Morgan State faculty and administrators did both.

MSU was awarded more Fulbright Scholar Awards than any other HBCU for the 2025-26 Academic Year (four in total). Congratulations to Dean Oscar Barton (SOE), Dr. Thurman Bridges (SEUS), Dr. Valerie Odero-Marah (SCMNS) and Prof. Betty Torrell (SAP) on their Fulbright Scholar awards! MSU also had a record number of Fulbright Specialist recipients in 2025. Dr. Thurman Bridges completed his institutional project in Liberia, Dr. Hakeem Tijani (CLA) in Equatorial Guinea, and Dr. Krishna Bista (SEUS) in Greece, while Dr. Valerie Riggs (SEUS) and Dean Oscar Barton have been selected to complete projects in Equatorial Guinea and France, respectively, in the coming months.

Morgan’s Fulbright achievements have been guided by Megan DeVirgilis, Ph.D., associate professor of Spanish and Fulbright Program director at Morgan, whose stewardship has catalyzed record participation and awards in recent years. For more information, read here.