Two Howard Bison Named 2024 Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors
Dear Howard University Community,
Please join me in congratulating Howard alumnus Mr. Virgil Parker (B.A. ’21) and Ph.D. candidate Ms. Lyndsie Whitehead on their recent appointments as Fulbright Program Alumni Ambassadors!
For the next two years, Parker and Whitehead will serve as representatives for the eminent Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Founded in 1946, The Fulbright Program is an international academic exchange program with the goal of increasing mutual understanding and supporting friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Today, the U.S. government oversees an extensive suite of fellowships and scholarships in partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide.
Parker and Whitehead are two of only 20 ambassadors selected for the 2024 cohort. As an Alumni Ambassador, they have been chosen to provide testimonials about their Fulbright experience at conferences and campus presentations, and offer application tips through written articles, multimedia platforms, and at special events across the nation.
Parker completed a Fulbright exchange in Canada after graduating from Howard, where he studied cross-border economic policy at the University of Windsor. His research explored means of creating economic equity in U.S.-Canada trade for U.S. business owners who identify as women or are members of minority groups. A Cathy Hughes School of Communications graduate, Parker was most recently a television producer for News10NBC (WHEC-TV) of Rochester, N.Y., and is currently a Global Goals Ambassador for the United Nations Association of the USA. He aspires to become a filmmaker who can use the power of storytelling to both educate and entertain people about important people and events in history.
Whitehead's Fulbright research examined the push-pull factors that influence sub-Saharan African students' enrollment decisions in India, including support services, financial resources, and relationships with faculty and peers. Her research explores strategies for policymakers, administrators, and faculty to gain a deeper understanding of the decision-making processes of international students choosing to study abroad. Currently a senior associate at UNICEF-USA and a doctoral candidate in Howard's higher education leadership and policy program, Whitehead's career goals include establishing a non-profit organization that integrates insights from her research to provide leadership development, career coaching, and internship opportunities for international students.
We once again send our deepest congratulations to Mr. Parker and Ms. Whitehead on their selections as 2024 Fulbright Program Alumni Ambassadors. Their achievement is yet another testament to Howard's commitment to expanding our students' opportunities to pursue their passions, while offering their time as servant-leaders across the globe. Read more about Mr. Parker and Ms. Whitehead's accomplishment in The Dig.
If you or a student you know is interested in a national or international merit award and/or prestigious fellowship, please visit this webpage to learn more about eligibility requirements and the support available to Howard students.
Committed to Truth and Service,
Ben Vinson III, Ph.D.
President