James W. Downing, a professor of Psychology at Sul Ross State University, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in Psychology to Croatia for the 2024-25 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

The award will allow Dr. Downing to work in the psychology department at the University of Rijeka where he will teach courses in “Political Psychology” and “Counseling from a Person-Centered Approach.” His work will bridge the world between the experience of individuals and their life in wider society. The host department is also interested in the application of student-centered teaching in the university classroom. Dr. Downing will work with the faculty and students, building on his existing relationships with the department.

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. They engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public and non-profit sectors.

Over 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants—recent college graduates, graduate students and early career professionals—participate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad each year.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. 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.

For more information, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org.