ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — An Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) professor has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright U.S. International Education Administrators Award that begins later this year. This honor places Andre Stevenson, professor of social work and director of international programs, among an elite group of global scholars dedicated to fostering international understanding and collaboration.
From the halls of ECSU to the global stage, Stevenson knows no boundaries. With nearly 30 years of teaching and research experience in social work education and public health, he has also contributed to Yale University's School of Public Health Advance Health Management Certificate program in Pretoria, South Africa, through his faculty appointment with the Foundation for Professional Development School of Business.
Stevenson's commitment to academic excellence extends to mentoring doctorate students, serving on dissertation and thesis committees at institutions such as New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Jackson State University, and as an external examiner for graduate research at the University of Cape Town and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa. He was the keynote speaker at a doctoral academy seminar at KZN, sharing his expertise with emerging scholars. In addition, his four-week 2023 Fulbright-Hays fellowship in Taiwan and 2024 Council of American Overseas Research Centers fellowship in Cambodia prove his global impact.
Stevenson will be "on the road" again, and his next stop will be Senegal and France.
As a Fulbright Scholar for France and Senegal, Stevenson said his main goals during his time in Senegal and France will be to deepen institutional partnerships and explore new strategies for global engagement.
"I hope to leverage this experience to continue to develop sustainable programs that support ECSU's Office of International Programs in further developing a campus culture of global learning and academic excellence," Stevenson said.
Stevenson's role as director of international programs at ECSU has prepared him for this new opportunity. According to Stevenson, ECSU has allowed him the space to be creative in promoting and supporting intercultural learning that broadens students' academic and cultural horizons.
"These experiences have equipped me with the skills necessary to engage in ongoing collaborations abroad," said Stevenson.
The Fulbright Program, established in 1946 and regarded as the world's most esteemed international educational exchange initiative, selected Stevenson for his outstanding leadership and commitment to global education. His appointment will take him to France and Senegal, where he will engage with academic institutions and promote cross-cultural dialogue.
As Stevenson packs his bags for the trip of a lifetime, he encourages other leaders and educators to do the same—get out and make a global impact.
"Be open to perspectives that challenge your own. Build authentic relationships across borders. Commit to further developing equitable partnerships within your academic disciplines and empower students and colleagues to see themselves as global citizens. Seek to provide academic or cultural opportunities where this can be demonstrated," said Stevenson.
Stevenson added that opportunities like Fulbright serve as a bridge to new perspectives, collaborations, and innovations that benefit ECSU students and faculty alike. These opportunities reaffirm the institution's commitment to developing a globally minded community.
Fulbright alumni include Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and world leaders—a testament to the program's legacy of excellence. Stevenson now joins these ranks, representing ECSU and the United States.
As a Fulbright Scholar, Stevenson will play a vital role in expanding educational opportunities. The Fulbright Board and the U.S. Department of State hailed his selection as a step toward advancing mutual understanding and global partnership.
"We have seen an increase in various academic and cultural programming among students and colleagues at ECSU over the past several years. This includes, among other things, having over 50 of our students become Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipients since 2019. I encourage everyone to seek out these life-changing opportunities, knowing that global engagement broadens horizons and prepares us to contribute in a meaningful way to a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected," Stevenson said.