A Fulbright Program for Staff Members

Sky Dominguez applied to the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award after reading a news article on prior awardee Emily Kotay. “I always thought Fulbright was just for faculty members and graduate students,” she said. “When Emily made me aware of the IEA, a prestigious opportunity specifically for administrators, I wanted to apply right away.”

Dominguez, associate director of Engagement & Program Development at the France-Arizona Institute for Global Grand Challenges, is the most recent of eleven University of Arizona staff members selected for the Fulbright IEA award, which facilitates international professional exchange trips for U.S. academic administrators. Six awardees have traveled to Germany, two to India, and two to Japan, with Dominguez's upcoming trip adding France to the list. Among these recipients, six are from the field of education, two are from literature, and one each is from history, law, and psychology.

Conducted in a cohort model, the program assigns groups of 10 to 20 administrators from various U.S. institutions to specific countries where they learn from that nation’s academic institutions and systems. The program funds participants’ travel, accommodations and program activities. “IEA events have impressive lists of distinguished attendees,” says France-Arizona Institute deputy director Regis Ferriere, “and I expect the connections Sky will establish there to contribute to the global impact of the Institute.”

Dominguez looks forward to forming relationships with U.S. peers in similar career paths. "IEA will help me establish a network where I can ask questions, share concerns and learn ways of doing things that could be adapted to improve our processes here.” 

Dominguez recognizes the benefits of acquiring a more nuanced understanding of the French educational system and its methodologies related to international cooperation. "Not being French, I know it will be helpful to better understand how the French approach international education projects. I have a good sense of how their academic institutions are structured, but that’s just the beginning of learning how to work together in innovative and impactful ways." Ferriere, who is French, agrees. “The French higher education system is definitely complex, sometimes arcane. The Fulbright IEA Program is an amazing opportunity for Sky to get the insider’s view and receive rigorous training on how to best navigate it.”

Dominguez hopes to leverage the Fulbright IEA Program to address barriers in student exchanges and enhance accessibility. By gaining insights into the French system and its approach to inclusivity, she aims to create more equitable opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. "Some of my primary goals in life are to create spaces with access for all and to promote the idea that our differences are means by which we all learn to do better."

Growing up in a multicultural environment in San Diego, California, Dominguez developed a profound appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives early in life. This background, she says, contributed to her commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and access to opportunities in education. "It’s the way I am built. My formative years ingrained in me just how much culture is reflected in how we engage with the world around us.”

The Fulbright IEA Awards are fully funded opportunities for U.S. higher education administrators to participate in intensive two-week seminars abroad to learn about other countries’ higher education systems. Participating in a Fulbright IEA seminar is a prestigious opportunity that opens doors to collaboration with colleagues and students worldwide. Campus resources are available for applicant support. Contact Danielle Barefoot, Research Development Services, to get started.