The paint-splattered floors of the Black Family Visual Arts Center have seen countless student projects, but some of those same hands now hold brushes in Prague studios and teach English in rural Thailand classrooms.
Dartmouth ranks fifth nationally as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution, with more than 125 students and alumni studying or teaching overseas through the prestigious program over the past decade. The recognition places the college among the country’s most successful universities at launching students into international experiences.
The Fulbright Student Program sends recent graduates and graduate students abroad for research, study, or English teaching. Recipients receive funding for up to a year of work in over 140 countries worldwide.
“These awards reflect our students’ curiosity about the world and their commitment to cross-cultural understanding,” said Jennifer Walters, director of Dartmouth’s National Fellowships Office. “They’re not just studying abroad — they’re creating art, conducting research, and building connections that last lifetimes.”
The program particularly attracts students from creative disciplines. Recent Dartmouth recipients include a studio art major documenting traditional textile techniques in Guatemala, a comparative literature student researching migration narratives in Berlin, and a government major teaching English in rural Indonesia.
Sarah Chen ‘23, currently on a Fulbright research grant in South Korea, said the experience transformed her understanding of her own Korean heritage. “Being here as a researcher rather than a tourist has given me access to communities and stories that shape how I think about identity and belonging,” Chen said.
The college’s strong liberal arts foundation helps students develop the interdisciplinary thinking that Fulbright selection committees value, according to Walters. Many recipients combine multiple academic interests — like the recent graduate studying the intersection of environmental science and indigenous knowledge systems in New Zealand.
Dartmouth’s ranking reflects broader institutional support for international engagement, from language programs to study abroad opportunities that prepare students for post-graduation global experiences. The college’s location in the Upper Valley, while rural, connects students to a network of internationally-minded faculty and alumni who mentor fellowship applicants.
“The Fulbright isn’t just about individual achievement,” Walters said. “These students become cultural ambassadors who bring their experiences back to campus and into their careers.”
