As the Fall 2024 semester winds down, you won’t find distinguished Texas Southern University (TSU) professor Dr. Lucy Ojode on campus. She won’t be there during the Spring 2025 semester, either. But her absence from the Tiger Walk is not due to negligence.
Far from it.
Ojode, a member of the TSU Jesse H. Jones School of Business’s Department of Business Administration, is an esteemed Fulbright Scholar. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends about 800 American scholars and professionals to around 130 countries each year.
Currently, Ojode is sharing her business expertise in Rwanda training entrepreneurs who are seeking their Executive MBA.
“I am honored and deeply grateful to receive this Fulbright award,” said Ojode. “I truly appreciate the support from my colleagues and students.”
Contrary to the historically negative portrayal of the African continent, it is home to multiple countries considered some of the most dynamic in terms of their current and future economic promise. Rwanda, just 30 years ago, was home to one of the most horrific genocides on the planet. Now, the Central African nation is held up as one of the world’s most exemplary democracies and steady economies, as U.S. democracy, according to social scientists is on the brink of collapse.
What better time for Ojode to take her talents abroad.
“I am excited to embark upon this opportunity to build connections between TSU-trained entrepreneurs and the burgeoning markets that exist in Africa,” said Ojode, who is celebrating her 20th anniversary as a TSU professor this year.
“It has been a wonderful journey since 2004. I have thoroughly enjoyed my classes, students, and colleagues, and it has always been a joy to be part of this academic community.”
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.
Ojode’s selection as a Fulbright Scholar has been described as underscoring her commitment to academic excellence and her dedication to fostering global understanding. While currently in Rwanda, Ojode is part of a broader effort by Fulbright Scholars to make meaningful contributions to communities abroad and at home, enriching both their host institutions and their home institutions with their experiences and insights.
And the significance of Ojode’s Fulbright honor is not lost on her TSU family.
“Texas Southern University is a proud partner to the Fulbright Program,” said TSU’s President Jim Crawford.
And why wouldn’t TSU be proud? When a scholar is recognized by the Fulbright Scholar program, so too is the institution.
“The U.S. Department of State has named the University as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader for four consecutive years in recognition of our support for Fulbright exchange participants and our promotion of Fulbright program opportunities on campus,” Crawford said. “The presence and contributions of those visiting scholars and our international students over the years add to TSU’s culturally rich environment in myriad ways,” said Crawford, who appreciates the opportunity one of his faculty has to place the global spotlight on TSU’s greatness.
“We are delighted to share Dr. Ojode with the world through this tremendous honor. We look forward to the new knowledge she will create and share, which she will bring back from Rwanda.”
The Fulbright Scholar Program, one of the most prestigious academic exchange initiatives worldwide, annually awards more than 1,700 fellowships to college and university faculty, administrators, researchers, artists and professionals. This program facilitates cross-cultural collaboration and provides scholars with the opportunity to build their skills, expand their global networks, and gain invaluable international insights.
Active in over 3,500 countries, the Fulbright Scholar program enhances the professional and personal growth of its participants and fosters a global network of accomplished alumni who serve as leaders and educators worldwide.
TSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Carl Goodman praised this achievement.
“Dr. Ojode’s selection as a Fulbright Scholar is a testament to her exceptional contributions to academia and her unwavering dedication to her students and colleagues,” stated Goodman. “We are proud to see her represent Texas Southern University on this global stage and look forward to the valuable perspectives she will bring back to our institution and community.”
