Washington, D.C. – On Friday December 3, 2021 at 11 am, the Embassy of Italy in Washington D.C. and the United States Department of State will join to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program worldwide with a panel discussion titled “Fulbright Fellows’ Contribution to the Fight against Covid-19,” in the year that marks the 160th anniversary of Italy-US diplomatic relations. 

Since its inception in 1948, the Program has greatly contributed to fostering and strengthening relations between Italy and the United States. Today the Program is a fundamental contributor to the outstanding relations that connect the people of our two nations. Since the US-Italy Fulbright Commission was established in 1948, more than 14,000 U.S. and Italian students, researchers and scholars have been awarded Fulbright grants to the other country.

Ambassador of Italy Mariangela Zappia (in the pic above) and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Matthew Lussenhop, will give introductory remarks. Thereafter, Fulbright alumni will give presentations showcasing the important role their contributions have played in fighting COVID-19 and in addressing the social, cultural, and economic challenges of the pandemic. Paola Sartorio, Executive Director, U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission will moderate.