Ashanti Freeman, an administrator in the Office of International Programs & Study Abroad, was awarded a prestigious Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award. The grant supported her participation in a two-week professional development program in March in Taiwan, where she joined a cohort of U.S. education leaders in exploring international education systems through high-level seminars and visits to academic and government institutions as well as cultural and historical landmarks. The transformative program helped Freeman build connections with local communities and fellow international educators, and reenergize her focus on supporting the college’s mission to grow internationalization on campus and nurture future global leaders. Ashanti Freeman (left) speaks on a panel during her trip to Taiwan as part of her Fulbright International Education Administrators Award. “I learned so much from everyone I met in Taiwan and from the representatives of the 15 U.S. universities in my cohort,” Freeman said. “One of my biggest goals moving forward is to improve the quality of advising for students applying to study abroad programs and scholarships. I want to grow not just the number, but the strength of our applications so that more Brooklyn College students can have transformative international experiences and feel truly part of a global community.” The Fulbright IEA Award is a competitive program designed to support U.S. higher education professionals in building international networks and learning about education systems abroad. Participants return with new insights, strategies, and partnerships to strengthen their institutions’ global engagement. Freeman’s experience in Taiwan has sparked a renewed commitment to improving access to international opportunities for students, particularly through personalized advising and outreach. “Expanding access to study abroad means meeting students where they are and helping them envision themselves as global citizens,” she added. The Fulbright Program is one of the world’s most prestigious international exchange initiatives, playing a key role in U.S. public diplomacy and academic collaboration. Its alumni include 63 Nobel Laureates, 98 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 82 MacArthur Fellows.
