August marked the arrival of the 2011–12 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows in Nashville, where they will engage in a year of professional and leadership development at Vanderbilt and Peabody. The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, part of the Fulbright Exchange Program, is administered by the Institute of International Education and sponsored primarily by the U.S. Department of State. Humphrey Fellows represent diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, but are selected based on a shared commitment to leadership and an exemplary record of service. The 2011–12 fellows, 10 distinguished mid-career professionals in the field of education, are from Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mauritius, Pakistan and South Africa.
Fellows will spend 10 months devoted to academic coursework, professional and leadership development, community service, and fostering cultural exchange and friendship. Throughout their time at Vanderbilt, fellows will develop and eventually implement a plan for positive educational change in their home countries.