The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has granted approval to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College for it's institutional proposal to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Kenya or Uganda for a semester. The proposal, submitted by Dr. Dottie King, vice president for Academic Affairs, supports the expansion of SMWC international programs. The success of SMWC's application was largely due to support from departments across campus, the White Violet Center, and from a number of partners in Vigo County, including Sony DADC, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Boral Bricks, the Green Valley Alliance, and Mayor Duke Bennett.

The Fulbright residency poses opportunities for a rich exchange of talent, knowledge, and experience that involves students, faculty and staff of the College, the Sisters of Providence, and the community. The Scholar-in-Residence will bring international perspectives of environmental sustainability to two courses co-taught with SMWC faculty. The Scholar will also participate in presentations on and off campus and assist in developing SMWC international programs, including English as a second language and study abroad. Currently the College maintains partnerships for international exchange with China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, England, and Ireland. 

The Fulbright agency expects to match SMWC's request with a qualified Scholar for fall 2010 or spring 2011 semester. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has operated in over 130 countries worldwide, providing international exchange opportunities for almost 300,000 participants to study, teach, and conduct research.