Celebrating 70 years of Fulbright Colombia as a global programme marks its 80th anniversary
Washington, D.C., 20 October 2026. Ambassador María Consuelo Araújo Castro and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Catherine Dillon led the commemoration, highlighting the importance of educational and scientific cooperation to the bilateral relationship.
The Colombian Ambassador’s Residence in Washington hosted one of the principal events marking the Fulbright Programme’s 80th anniversary worldwide, while also celebrating seven decades of academic and cultural exchange between Colombia and the United States through Fulbright Colombia. Hosted by Ambassador María Consuelo Araújo Castro, the celebration brought together representatives of both governments and the Fulbright community, including Catherine Dillon, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs; Giovanni Anzola-Pardo, Executive Director of Fulbright Colombia; Richard Alexander Caicedo Rico, President of ICETEX; and Stewart D. Tuttle, Public Affairs Counsellor at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.
“Celebrating 80 years of Fulbright and nearly seven decades of cooperation with Colombia is an opportunity to recognise one of the most valuable dimensions of our relationship with the United States. Through education, science and culture, the programme has helped shape generations of Colombians who now contribute to our country’s development and sustain the connections between our societies. Every Fulbright scholar represents an opportunity to translate the knowledge gained, the relationships forged and the experiences shared into tangible progress for Colombia,” said Ambassador María Consuelo Araújo Castro.
Throughout its history, Fulbright Colombia has facilitated exchanges among students, academics and researchers, fostered collaboration between educational institutions and supported the development of talent in fields essential to Colombia’s progress.
