Call for Proposals
We welcome proposals from current grantees, alumni (U.S. or non-U.S.), and anyone who supports the ideals of the Fulbright Program. You do not have to be a member of the Fulbright Association, but all presenters must register to attend the conference.
Important Dates
Proposals Accepted: Friday, May 1 – Tuesday, July 15
Proposal Reviews: Wednesday, July 16 – Friday, August 1
Presenter Decision Notifications: Week of August 12
Session Formats
Roundtable Discussions (30 mins)
Roundtable Discussions are a less formal way to engage with other attendees around a central topic, idea, or research area. These sessions generate conversation and engagement around tables of ten attendees.
Presenters will each have 30 minutes to provide a brief introduction to a topic and lead a discussion with several prompting questions.
Each table will represent a variety of topics and themes. Participants are allowed to rotate from table to table during a 1–2 hour session.
Handouts are encouraged, but WiFi and projectors will not be available.
Poster Presentations (60 mins)
Poster Presentations are designed to be impactful information sessions on your Fulbright experience, idea, issue, or research. Presenters will visually represent their data and present their content to participants during a 60-minute time frame.
Returning Fulbright grantees, students, and teachers are welcome to submit proposals in this category.
Past posters have included Fulbright grant experiences, research or other work, project overviews, best practices for teaching, photo journals, and outreach efforts both in the U.S. and abroad. Be creative!
Posters will be attached to one side of a 4 x 8ft standing bulletin board. A “typical” printed poster is not required; you may use the space as needed to convey your presentation.
Thumbtack pins and a table will be provided.
Conference Focus Areas
The focus areas for this year’s conference are inspired by our theme of “Our Legacy, Our Future”. Conference Focus Areas may overlap; please select the area which is the best match for your presentation proposal.
Questions? Email: conference@fulbright.org
Diplomatic Legacy
Advancing the Fulbright Mission
This focus area explores how eight decades of the Fulbright Program have served as a cornerstone of international diplomacy. We invite presentations that examine the program’s evolution, its historical impact on mutual understanding, and its enduring role as a stabilizing force in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.
Key topics could include:
Evolution of people-to-people diplomacy in the 21st century.
Historical case studies: Fulbright’s impact on bilateral relations.
Navigating the intersection of educational exchange and national security.
Framing the next decade: What must evolve in the Fulbright mission.
Career Pathways
Building the Pipeline from Exchange to Employment
This pillar focuses on the professional trajectory of Fulbrighters, translating global exchange experiences into career leadership. We seek proposals that highlight innovative strategies for building career pipelines in international higher education, policy, and the private sector to empower the next generation of global leaders.
Key topics could include:
Translating international scholarship for the global job market.
Navigating transitions from government and academia to the private sector.
Success stories: Fulbright alumni in Fortune 500 and startup leadership.
Leveraging AI and alumni networks for cross-border hiring.
Global Resilience
Navigating Risk as First Responders of Ideas
In an era of rapid technological and environmental change, this area addresses how the Fulbright community responds to global crises. We welcome research and practical frameworks for building resilience against emerging risks, positioning Fulbrighters as intellectual leaders on the frontlines of global challenges.
Key topics could include:
Combatting disinformation and navigating the ethics of AI.
Conflict resilience: Sustaining international networks during periods of instability.
Collaborative innovations in science, health, and global technology.
Addressing the intersection of climate change, migration, and resource scarcity.
Civic Impact
From Scholar to Citizen: Leading Local Change
This focus area highlights how Fulbrighters translate their international insights into tangible local action. We encourage proposals that showcase alumni-led civic initiatives, social enterprises, and grassroots leadership models that demonstrate the lasting community-level influence of the Fulbright network.
Key topics could include:
Launching and scaling alumni-led NGOs and social impact projects.
Grassroots leadership in international development.
The Global Service Corps: Models for sustainable alumni volunteerism.
Measuring the “hard” results of soft power in local communities.