N.O. native makes history as Prairie View A&M University’s first Fulbright Scholar
Stephanie Tilley aspires to ignite a spark of inspiration among her fellow PVAMU students, motivating them to embark on their own courageous journeys.
New Orleans native Stephanie Tilley, a doctoral student at Prairie View A&M University, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the university’s first Fulbright Scholar.
Her achievement goes beyond personal accomplishment; she aspires to ignite a spark of inspiration among her fellow PVAMU students, motivating them to embark on their own courageous journeys.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a competitive and prestigious study-abroad exchange initiative that awards 1,700 fellowships to 800 U.S. and 900 visiting scholars. It consistently attracts a diverse spectrum of individuals, from faculty, administrators to researchers, artists and professionals.
Less than 6% of scholars identified as Black in 2016. Fulbright established the HBCU Institutional Leaders initiative in 2022 to build strong partnerships with HBCUs and encourage institutions to increase their engagement with Fulbright. The goal is to foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program stands as a testament to international collaboration.
Tilley earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Loyola University in New Orleans and a masters in student affairs in higher education at Texas State University. She is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Prairie View.
The Houston Defender’s Laura Onyeneho spoke to the history maker about what this means for her and what other PVAMU students can do to apply. (Read more.)