Fulbright Chronicles, Volume 4, Number 2 (February 2026)
Authors
Habiba I. Atta, Melanie C. Brooks, Bruce B. Svare and Kevin F. F. Quigley
The very essence of Fulbright Chronicles lies in the power of storytelling and the brilliant work Fulbrighters are undertaking in various academic disciplines. The power of storytelling can move nations, and nowhere is it put better than the TED talk given by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian novelist. In her talk she highlighted the potential of telling stories, not from just one angle as no story is truly one-sided, but multifaceted. This echoes the experience of Fulbrighters visiting the United States from their various countries, and U.S. Fulbrighters visiting other countries for their exchange program. Their engagements, as related on the pages of Fulbright Chronicles, reflect different cultural perspectives with regards the diverse research ecosystem and pedagogical approaches available globally. As Chimamanda succinctly stated, “stories can empower and humanise.” This is the spirit we hope to inspire in our readers.
As Chimamanda succinctly put it, ‘stories can empower and humanise,’ and I believe this is the spirit we hope to inspire in our readers whenever they read about the projects and experience shared by Fulbrighters.
In keeping with our vision, this issue highlights the geographical range Fulbrighters impact–from Asia and the Caribbean to Europe and the Middle East. Their work cuts across diverse fields that are important in understanding the role of culture as it relates to dietary choices, family ties and parenthood, information diplomacy, teacher education, and higher education. The rich experiences shared by these Fulbrighters promotes intercultural understanding and the hidden but important intricacies in navigating academic norms and practices. One common thread weaving the articles together is the shared goal of improving the higher education landscape and building innovative approaches.
One of the merits of the Fulbright exchange program is the formation of lasting cooperation between academics in the United States and those in other countries. This sustainable engagement was explored by the Nigerian Fulbright alumni in a ten-chapter book published to mark the 25th anniversary of the Fulbright Alumni Association of Nigeria (FAAN). The book with a myriad of topics centred on fostering and strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties between the United States and Nigeria showcased chapters such as: Building the Bridge-Institutions and Infrastructure; The Fulbright Ecosystem in Nigeria; Transforming Tertiary Education; Research, Innovation and Policy Influence; New Vistas in Nigeria-US Higher Ed Collaboration; Policy Roadmap and Recommendations. The book explores the current collaborative efforts between both countries and prospective areas for more knowledge exchange and capacity building. All ten chapters were conceived and contributed by Nigerian Fulbright alumni based on the current trends and needs in the higher education scene in Nigeria. We congratulate the Nigerian Fulbright alumni on this milestone, and look forward to celebrating other members of the Fulbright global network.
This issue also includes three spectacular book reviews. They include: a book about a caffeinated herbal drink that cuts across countries in South America; a piece weaving together musical composition and scripture; and finally, a book about diarists and their accounts of the events of World War II in the Netherlands.
In our last issue, we officially announced that Fulbright Chronicles is now registered as a not-for-profit organization. We welcome your financial support. Do visit our website to make your kind contributions. We would like to thank all contributors, reviewers and the entire editorial board for making Fulbright Chronicles a force not just within the Fulbright network, but in the academic community.