USF Sarasota-Manatee Global Engagement Director Presents at Fulbright Conference

USF Sarasota-Manatee Global Engagement Director Amela Malkic recently participated in the Fulbright Association’s 42nd Annual Conference and Advocacy Day at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, and on Capitol Hill.

Malkic, president of the Mid-Florida Fulbright Chapter of the Fulbright Association, was part of the Florida advocacy team that visited the offices of Florida lawmakers during Advocacy Day on Oct. 24. The team focused its presentation on the local economic impact created by international education and Fulbright programs.

The team visited the offices of U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, all of Florida, providing information packets and sharing stories about the impact Fulbright awards have made on their careers and personal lives.

“It was productive and rewarding to attend the Fulbright Conference and to participate in the Fulbright Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill,” Malkic said. “These events provided a great opportunity for us to network with Fulbright colleagues and alumni, to advocate for Fulbright programs, and to exchange knowledge and excitement about Fulbright’s impact. USF was the number one producer of faculty Fulbright awards in the United States in 2017 and in 2019, and I was proud to represent the USF System at this prestigious and important event.”

USF served as co-sponsor for the conference and advocacy day, which included 92 meetings at congressional offices with 62 representatives and 30 senators from 36 states.

Malkic this past spring spent two weeks in India through a grant from the Fulbright-Nehru International Educational Administrators program, which is designed to inform participants about the country’s higher education system and to explore opportunities for future collaboration.

“It was wonderful for Amela to have the opportunity to attend the conference and advocacy day and represent Florida’s Fulbright programs, USF and our campus,” said USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen A. Holbrook, PhD. “The Fulbright Association has an outstanding and well-documented track record for preparing world leaders. This week, as we celebrate international education, it’s important to recognize the role these experiences play in preparing our students to be global citizens.”

USFSM and other institutions this week are celebrating International Education Week by recognizing the importance of international education and study abroad. According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 37 Fulbright alumni have served as heads of state or government in their home countries.

For more information about USF Sarasota-Manatee, visit usfsm.edu.