WILBERFORCE — Central State University has been designated a 2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader.

Central State is one of only 19 HBCUs so honored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It is for its notable connections to the Fulbright Program that the university has received this noteworthy recognition. The school has additionally been honored for its dedication to engaging with diverse communities around the world since 2019.

The Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader designation was first established in 2019 to acknowledge strong partnerships between selected HBCUs and the Fulbright Program. The goal for the Fulbright Program with this designation is to encourage and promote further engagement between HBCUs and itself.

“Central State University’s designation as a 2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader is a testament to [the] Institution’s dedication to promoting global engagement and mutual understanding among peoples and nations,” said a congratulatory letter addressed to Interim President Alex Johnson from the office of U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Blinken also lauded Central State’s “longstanding commitment to build diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within all of [its] international exchange programs.” Blinken furthermore thanked Johnson and Central State for their hard work via participation across the full range of Fulbright awards and on-campus engagement.

The announcement of the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders designations was made Monday as part of the kickoff of the White House Initiative on HBCUs National HBCU Week Conference in Washington, D.C.

“We at Central State University are grateful to the Fulbright Program for its recognizing our University as an HBCU leader within its prestigious community,” Johnson said. “We will continue to promote diversity, inclusivity, and innovation through our continued work with the Fulbright Program and across the academic field at large.”