My first question is to tell us a bit about WKU and the Fulbright Program at WKU.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a comprehensive public university of 18,000. We do have internationalization as part of the strategic plan, one other goal is to become Kentucky's fastest growing university. Three years ago, we have the total enrollment of 15,000.
It has grown tremendously for the past three years. That figure can be extended also to the study abroad figure. We grew from 56 students to 260 students studying abroad. Each year, WKU has ~550 international students on campus.

In terms of Fulbright program, many faculty members are Fulbrighters.
Student program was non-existent three years ago. Most Kentucky students are first-generation college students and are often very self-selective about national competition regarding scholarship programs. This year, we have three students apply to the program after they studied abroad. I am very excited to see how it plays out!

Since Fulbright is fairly new at your university, how do you promote the program to students?

I email to all faculty members about the program, and ask them about if they have any outstanding students in mind that they can recommend. I also emailed to all my past study abroad students about the websites and that opportunity.

Can you walk us through the Fulbright Process on your campus?

Besides the emails, the press kit on the Fulbright website is wonderful! I customized it according to my on deadline and post in the departments that are most relevant to the award categories or countries. After student expressed their interest, I sit the student down for one-on-one advising session to navigate the website with them.
I also show them some of the sample essays that others have written. I hook them up with a faculty member (Fulbright Recipient) and ask them to critique the essay. I go through all the criteria with the students.

I was introduced to the Fulbright program right when you guys are switching from paper application to online application. So at first, it was confusing to me. I went to the Fulbright workshops run by Teresa and Walter both in NAFSA national conference in Salt Lake City and at
Vanderbilt University. Walter, of course, has always been very helpful via emails.

WKU is about to set up out first-ever Fulbright student campus committee to review these three applications. I plan to appoint past Fulbright faculty members to serve in this committee.