Zenobia Lawrence Hikes, vice president of the division of student affairs, has been selected by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board as a Fulbright scholar grantee to the United States-Japan International Education Administrators (IEA) program.

As a Fulbright grantee, Hikes will join the ranks of some 279,500 alumni of the program who have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors, and teachers. The distinguished group has thus far been awarded thirty-six Nobel Prizes.

“Being selected as a Fulbright scholar grantee to the United States-Japan International Education Administrators program is a great and well-deserved honor for Dr. Hikes," said Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. "Reaching out to, and developing, an understanding of other cultures is of vital importance to Virginia Tech and to our students. I am sure that Dr. Hikes’ experiences in this Fulbright program will benefit her professionally and personally, and through her, broaden the horizons for our students. We wish her the greatest success with this program and look forward to her sharing her knowledge with us upon her return.”

During the three-week Fulbright International IEA program, Hikes will have the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of Japanese education, specifically higher education, and to understand how changes in Japanese economic, social, political, and cultural contexts will have an impact on, and be impacted by, the educational system. She will also visit select primary and secondary schools, training schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions.

As a representative of the United States in Japan, Hikes will help fulfill the principal purpose of the Fulbright program, which is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and Japan. As a goodwill ambassador from the U.S., Hikes will have an opportunity to share her knowledge of the overall structure of higher education in the U.S.; increase her understanding of differences between the cultures of Japan and the U.S.; and discuss the demographics of Japanese students who study at Virginia Tech.

The United States Congress created the Fulbright Program in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II, to promote mutual understanding between the U.S. and the rest of the world. Nearly 1,000 Japanese traveled to the U.S. from 1949 to 1951 to study under what was then known as the Government Aid and Relief in Occupied Areas program (GARIOA). In 1952, the Fulbright Program commenced in Japan, replacing the GARIOA.

The Division of Student Affairs is committed to the growth, development, and achievement of students at Virginia Tech. The Division works closely with the academic staff to support students as they learn to be successful and effective leaders in the emerging global community. The Division of Student Affairs is comprised of 15 departments. Student Affairs departments are dedicated to the holistic development of students through rich co-curricular experiences, supportive and inclusive communities, ethical leadership and professional development, and high quality environments.

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