The Fulbright International Exchange Program, under the auspices of the US State Department, offers grants to study, teach and conduct research for U.S. citizens to go abroad and non-U.S. citizens to come to the United States. Different programs are available for faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates. Although most of the programs are for full years, the Fulbright Specialist Program offers stays of 2-6 weeks. Fulbrights are one of the easiest ways for US academics to connect internationally.
By 2014 Fulbright circulated the following information: “As of last year, lifetime limits on Fulbright Scholar Program grants have been lifted, as have waiting periods between grants. This means more flexibility and opportunity to partake in Fulbright experiences throughout your career; you can participate on a semester-long award and not jeopardize your ability to get back on the Roster or your other future participation.” So for those who have already had one Fulbright, consider requesting another!
A few examples of Communication scholars who have been awarded Fulbrights are listed below. If you have completed any of the varieties of Fulbright awards, and wish to have your description added, send an email with details, or post a comment below.
Mara Adelman – Ethiopia
David L. Altheide – Germany and Portugal
Richard Buttny – Malaysia and India
Kevin Barnhurst – Peru and Italy
Donal Carbaugh – Finland
Kristen Cvancara – Finland
Steven Darian – Uzbekistan
Don Ellis – Israel
Glenn Geiser-Getz (Russia & Ghana)
Phillip Glenn – Moldava
Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz – Portugal
Sheila McNamee – Colombia
Tema Milstein – New Zealand
Jon Nussbaum – Wales
Susan Opt – Czech Republic
Todd Sandel – Taiwan
James Schnell – Cambodia
Stacey K. Sowards – Indonesia
John Parrish-Sprowl – Macedonia and Belarus
Ayseli Usluata – USA (from Turkey)
Paul Voakes – Uganda
Joseph Zompetti – Sri Lanka and Brazil
Stories from many of these Fulbrighters (and others) are included in chapter The value of a Fulbright: Internationalizing education one person at a time, published in Internationalizing the communication curriculum in an age of globalization.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 
Leanne Pupchek — Ukraine
I have been in L’viv, Ukraine for this academic year teaching and conducting research on the construction and expression of national identity. While “Communication” is not a Fulbright academic category, the Ukrainian system of higher education and many others teach what communication scholars teach and study what we study in departments of English, Journalism and American Studies. Finding a contact before you apply certainly helps decide which category to identify for your particular area of interest.
My language study is progressing slower than I would have liked, but I have been able to teach and conduct interviews in English. Being able to work in English surprises me, because visits here 15 years ago required an interpreter. Nevertheless, many people are able and often go out of their way to help English-speaking tourists (and researchers and teachers), especially the under-30s. I have taught second-year undergraduates and first-year graduate students. I have also served as a guest lecturer and have been invited to present at two conferences in the next two months.
I brought two teenagers with me. This Fulbright placement provided limited tuition to an international school for dependents, as have other placements in the former Eastern Bloq. (I don’t know how long that will last for Fulbrighters and their families.) Nevertheless, with no international school in L’viv, my kids have been attending a school that teaches many courses in English. This way they have met local students learned where to go skateboarding and which coffee house to visit. They are supplementing the courses available here with online and independent-study. (I registered as an official home school before i let the U.S.) My husband has been able to visit a number of times.
I do not have the kind of perspective on the experience that time can give, but still here paddling as fast as I can, I would not have traded this year for anything.
Thanks, Leanne, for adding your story!