The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at Virginia Commonwealth University

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was established in 1978 to honor the accomplishments of the late U.S. Senator and Vice President, Hubert H. Humphrey. It is a Fulbright exchange program that brings accomplished professionals from selected countries to the U.S. at a mid-point in their careers for an academic year of study and professional experiences.

Fellows are nominated by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions based on their potential for leadership in a wide range of fields. Fellows participate in a variety of educational and training experiences including academic coursework, a specially designed seminar, conferences and workshops, cultural excursions, and a professional affiliation with an organization in their particular area of interest.

Now completing its 18th year, the primary focus of the VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program is on substance abuse prevention, treatment and policy. Since its initiation, the VCU program has had a strong record of accomplishments. Evaluation results indicate that at one year following completion of their fellowship, nearly 70% of the fellows had started a new job, with approximately 70% of those fellows reporting that their fellowship helped them obtain their new position. In addition, a large percentage of fellows continued to actively engage in professional development activities, including approximately 20% of fellows who had enrolled in an academic degree program. Finally, nearly 20% of the fellows continued to collaborate with a US partner after completing their fellowship.