Gemma Beckley Becomes 1st Fulbright Scholar in Rust College History

Dr. Gemma Beckley, chair and professor of social work at Rust College, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to do research in India during the 2015-2016 academic year, the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced recently. Beckley is the first Fulbright scholar in Rust College’s history.

“It feels wonderful,” Beckley said. “I am so excited!”

Beckley has established herself as an authority in the field of social work having worked nationally and internationally to help women and children in rural and underserved communities. This will not be her first trip to India. The National Association of Social Work NASW Pioneer Award recipient has traveled to the country several times lecturing and conducting research.

Beckley has taught at Fordham University, Grambling State University, the University of Mississippi and Wiley College and has served as senior program associate at the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.

The Rust College Board of Trustee Distinguished Professor
Beckley holds a bachelor’s degree from Dillard University, a master of social work from Atlanta University and a doctor of social work from Columbia University.

Approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals travelled abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2014-2015.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. The Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given over 318,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, scientists and other professionals the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in government, science, the arts, business, philanthropy,education, and many other fields. Fifty-three Fulbright alumni from 12 countries have been awarded the Nobel Prize, and 78 alumni have received Pulitzer Prizes. Prominent Fulbright alumni include: Muhammad Yunus, founder, Grameen Bank, and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient; Juan Manuel Santos, president of Colombia; John Hope Franklin, noted American historian and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient; Riccardo Giacconi, physicist and 2002 Nobel Laureate; Amar Gopal Bose, chairman and founder, Bose Corporation; Renée Fleming, soprano; Jonathan Franzen, writer; and Daniel Libeskind, architect.

Fulbright recipients are among more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.

For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, please visit our website at http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.Dr. Gemma Beckley, chair and professor of social work at Rust College, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to do research in India during the 2015-2016 academic year, the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced recently. Beckley is the first Fulbright scholar in Rust College’s history.

“It feels wonderful,” Beckley said. “I am so excited!”

Beckley has established herself as an authority in the field of social work having worked nationally and internationally to help women and children in rural and underserved communities. This will not be her first trip to India. The National Association of Social Work NASW Pioneer Award recipient has traveled to the country several times lecturing and conducting research.

Beckley has taught at Fordham University, Grambling State University, the University of Mississippi and Wiley College and has served as senior program associate at the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.

The Rust College Board of Trustee Distinguished Professor

Beckley holds a bachelor’s degree from Dillard University, a master of social work from Atlanta University and a doctor of social work from Columbia University.

About The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. The Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given over 318,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, scientists and other professionals the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in government, science, the arts, business, philanthropy,education, and many other fields. Fifty-three Fulbright alumni from 12 countries have been awarded the Nobel Prize, and 78 alumni have received Pulitzer Prizes. Prominent Fulbright alumni include: Muhammad Yunus, founder, Grameen Bank, and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient; Juan Manuel Santos, president of Colombia; John Hope Franklin, noted American historian and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient; Riccardo Giacconi, physicist and 2002 Nobel Laureate; Amar Gopal Bose, chairman and founder, Bose Corporation; Renée Fleming, soprano; Jonathan Franzen, writer; and Daniel Libeskind, architect.

Fulbright recipients are among more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.

For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, please visit our website at http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.

Source: Office of Public Relations, Rust College