BOONE, N.C. — Christopher Lytle, of Appalachian State University, has received a Fulbright Scholar Program award that will provide him the opportunity to participate in an International Education Administrators (IEA) seminar in Taiwan during two weeks in March. Lytle is the director of education abroad for Appalachian’s Office of International Education and Development.

According to the Fulbright Scholar Program website, International Education Administrators seminars exist to “help U.S. international education professionals and senior higher education officials create empowering connections with the societal, cultural and higher education systems of other countries. Grantees have the opportunity to learn about the host country’s education system as well as establish networks of U.S. and international colleagues over the course of an intensive two-week grant duration. Grantees return with enhanced ability to serve and encourage international students and prospective study-abroad students.”

This is the first announced recipient of a Fulbright award this spring for Appalachian. It comes just before Fulbright Week 2018, during which numerous events will showcase Fulbright Program opportunities and inform faculty and students on the Fulbright application process. Fulbright Week 2018 is scheduled for Feb. 5-9.

Lytle shared his goals for his upcoming Fulbright IEA experience. He said he plans to spend time learning about the education system in Taiwan in order to advise Appalachian students regarding study abroad in that country, and to engage with Appalachian’s academic departments about potential curricular ties with universities in Taiwan. Lytle said he also plans to identify industry connections for international internships.

Commenting on how his upcoming Fulbright experience will benefit Appalachian directly, Lytle wrote, “The Taiwan Fulbright Grant will allow me to work directly with advisors in our office and across campus, engage in curriculum mapping, showcase Taiwan as an option for our growing diverse student body by strengthening existing partnerships and facilitating the creation of new opportunities, and collaborating to create on-campus global opportunities.”

Dr. Maria Anastasiou, executive director of Appalachian’s Office of International Education and Development (OIED), spoke about the Fulbright Program and of Lytle’s achievement. “There are so many opportunities available for faculty and staff to apply for a Fulbright award, and I hope more people will apply for them.

“The Office of Research, Appalachian’s Fulbright faculty liaisons and OIED — we have all worked together to create support structures for faculty and staff, so they can be more successful through this process. I encourage faculty to come to the events next week (Fulbright Week 2018), and to learn more, visit the Appalachian Fulbright Scholar Program website or just come meet with one of us to learn more. I am very proud for Christopher’s success.”

About the Fulbright Scholarship Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries that are needed to solve global challenges. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

About the Office of International Education and Development

The OIED is responsible for spearheading the internationalization efforts at Appalachian. The internationalization mission of Appalachian is to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences in both domestic and international contexts in its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities. The university is also dedicated to creating a campus environment that builds the theoretical and practical skills needed to interact effectively in a global society. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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