Today, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Fulbright Top Producing Institutions like MICA value global connection and support members of their campus communities to pursue international opportunities.
Linda Whelihan ’12 (Art Education MA), who currently supervises student teachers at MICA, was selected for a Fulbright award for the academic year 2023-24. She will be working with the Maasai Trust and the Mara Elephant project in Kenya, developing arts-integrated curricula. This is the sixth year in a row in which at least one MICA student has been selected for the Program, and the 23rd since 1994. Whelihan now becomes the 41st MICA student to receive the distinction.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.
“We are very excited for Linda to take her love of comprehensive and holistic arts education to Kenya, where her love of nature and sustainability will find a perfect home. She joins an incredible community of students who have pursued their passions abroad, extending MICA’s ethos of creative connections far beyond our walls,” said Rob Sabal, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
MICA has a rich history of alumni receiving Fulbright scholarships, with students traveling to India, Ukraine, South Korea, Germany, Nigeria, Colombia, Turkey, Cambodia and other countries around the world to further their studies. Students return with renewed energy and perspective on the importance and impact of their practice.
Two notable alumni who received Fulbrights directly after graduation – Louis Fratino ’15 (Painting BFA) and Adejoke Tugbiyele ’13 (Rinehart School of Sculpture MFA) – are considered to be working at the highest level of their respective crafts.
“Fulbright’s Top Producing Institutions represent the diversity of America’s higher education community. Dedicated administrators support students and scholars at these institutions to fulfill their potential and rise to address tomorrow’s global challenges. We congratulate them, and all the Fulbrighters who are making an impact the world over,” said Lee Satterfield, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Applicants to Fulbright at MICA are supported by Mike Rini, Associate Director of Education Abroad & Exchange Services.
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.
Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United State and the people of other countries.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org/