Mercer to Host Fall Reception of Fulbright Association’s Georgia Chapter on Atlanta Campus

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ATLANTA – Mercer University will host the fall reception of the Georgia Chapter of the Fulbright Association Oct. 16 on the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta.

The Fulbright Association, established in 1977, supports international educational and cultural exchange, in addition to the ideal most associated with its namesake Sen. J. William Fulbright, which is mutual understanding among the peoples of the world.

The Georgia Chapter's fall reception, which will take place at 6 p.m. in the Trustees Dining Room, will be attended by faculty from across Georgia who have received Fulbright awards, foreign students studying at institutions in Georgia on Fulbright awards, and local students from Georgia institutions who have received and are applying for awards.

The event's guest speaker is J.D. McCrary, executive director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Atlanta. McCrary has over 20 years of management experience spanning both the corporate and the nonprofit sectors, all with an international focus, and he has worked on all seven continents.

Dr. Zipangani Vokhiwa, associate professor of science in Penfield College, was named to the board of the Georgia Chapter of the Fulbright Association earlier this year and worked to bring the fall reception to Mercer.

Dr. Caroline Brackette, associate professor of counseling in Penfield College, chaired the planning committee for the event, along with fellow Penfield faculty Dr. Priscilla Danheiser, Dr. Timothy Craker, Dr. Jacqueline Stephen, Dr. Suneetha Manyam and Dr. Kyra Osmus. College of Liberal Arts faculty member Dr. David Davis, director of international programs and the English Language Institute Julie Strecker, assistant vice president for alumni services and special events Sharon Lim Harle and Fulbright Association board members Kim Eger and Lee Pasackow also served on the committee.

The Georgia Chapter of the Fulbright Association was founded in the early 1990s and organizes six major annual events for visiting scholars, students and alumni. For 2015, the chapter's board has adopted two of the national board's tracks – global health and international education – to focus its work. This year's national Fulbright conference, Nov. 12-14, will be hosted by the Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina chapters in Atlanta.

The Fulbright Program, founded in 1946, is the country's flagship international education exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Over 325,000 Fulbright participants have benefitted from the program, helping to further enhance education and cultural exchange.

In the past three years, six Mercer students have earned Fulbright awards to Brazil, France, Germany, Poland and Moldova.

Each year, the Georgia Chapter of the Fulbright Association works with around 90 scholars and students who are part of the Fulbright Program, planning events to help them learn about the history and culture of Georgia, as well as get integrated into their temporary homes.

About Penfield College of Mercer University

Penfield College of Mercer University, established as the College of Continuing and Professional Studies in 2003, is committed to serving non-traditional learners and currently enrolls more than 1,300 students. Undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are offered to working adult learners seeking professional advancement into leadership roles in and beyond their communities. Educational programs provide students with distinctive, multidisciplinary programs that integrate theory and practice. The College offers general education and elective courses for various colleges and schools at Mercer. Another initiative called the Bridge program transitions students enrolled in Mercer's English Language Institute and other international students to undergraduate programs throughout the University. Areas of study include organizational leadership, counseling, school counseling, human services, human resources, informatics, public safety leadership, nursing preparation, liberal studies, psychology and communication. Programs are offered on Mercer's campuses in Atlanta and Macon, as well as multiple regional academic centers in Douglas County, Henry County and Newnan, and online. To learn more, visit penfield.mercer.edu.