Fulbright Official Praises Goals and Fears Budget Cuts - Mike Rast Jr., Global Atlanta

A member of the governing board of the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright program from Atlanta says the $400 million in study abroad scholarships given out in fiscal 2010 is widely recognized as money well spent. But she is concerned that the current climate in Washington might lead to reductions in international education budgets, and inhibit the development of programs for sub-Saharan countries. Shelby Lewis, professor emeritus from Clark Atlanta University and vice chair of the J.W.Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, told GlobalAtlanta in a wide ranging interview at her home in Cascade Heights that government cutbacks brought on by the slow economy might negatively impact the program’s funding. “We are hoping that Fulbright will not be subjected to deep budget cuts for fiscal 2012,” Dr. Lewis said.