The government’s Fulbright program recently announced its 2009-2010 Fulbright grants, and Penn State was ranked second among research universities with 11 total faculty receiving grants (7 from University Park, 4 from branch campuses). Ranked ahead of Penn State were Oregon, Michigan, and Michigan State (all tied for first place). The faculty members from Penn State are:

• Jay Charles Amicangelo (Chemistry) (Penn State Erie)
• Daniel Cahoy (Business)
• Thomas Carbonneau (Law)
• Pui-Wa Lei (Education)
• Randall Newnham (Political Science) (Penn State Berks)
• Sandra Petrulionis (English and American Studies) (Penn State Altoona)
• John M. Regan (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
• Raymond Regan (Civil Engineering)
• Malika Richards (Management) (Penn State Berks)
• David W. Saxe (Education)
• Elizabeth A. Skowron (Education)

Founded in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright, the Fulbright program awards grants to faculty and students every year to send them abroad to lecture and conduct research. This year the program will send 1,250 scholars and more than 1,500 students abroad. Look for that number to increase in the future, as President Obama has a $20 million increase in funding next year. Maybe then we’ll be number 1.

Read more about the scholars selected, and where they’re going, in this recent Penn State Live article.