International HBCU xchange, Inc. Launches Groundbreaking Program Historically Black Institution xperience, to Strengthen Global Collaboration Among HBCUs and HBUs
For Immediate Release October 17, 2024
New Program Promotes Cross-Cultural Exchange, Research Collaboration, and Global Competency Between Historically Black Institutions in the United States and South Africa
Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2024:
International HBCU xchange, Inc. (iHBCUx) announces the launch of the Historically Black Institution xchange (HBIx), fostering global partnerships between U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and South African Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs). Supported through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Consulate Durban, the Public Diplomacy-funded program bridges academic divides through exchanges, research, and collaborative learning. Supported through a cooperative agreement with U.S. Mission to South Africa, the Public Diplomacy-funded program bridges academic divides through exchanges, research, and collaborative learning. iHBCUx, has invited—Bennett College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and Bishop State Community College—as well as four South African institutions—University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Zululand, Mangosuthu University of Technology, and Coastal KZN TVET College—to join the HBIX program.
Led by Dr. Ashleigh Brown-Grier, HBIx aims to close gaps in U.S.-South Africa research collaborations for Black higher education institutions. It supports students and faculty with enriched academic exchanges with the aim of empowering the next generation of leaders from Black-serving institutions to make an impact on a global scale. “Building partnerships between HBCUs and HBUs fosters a global perspective and addresses social justice, educational equity, and economic disparities,” said Dr. Brown-Grier. Public Affairs Officer Jaclyn Cole noted, “HBIx builds on generations of cross-cultural exchange and powerful Black social movements anchored in higher education institutions that have transformed both our countries for the better. Today, we are excited to support HBIx and include an HBCU from Atlanta, Georgia in the project, ensuring tangible support to our Atalanta Phambili Initiative.” Atlanta Phambili, meaning "forward" in Zulu and Xhosa, is a U.S.-South Africa diplomacy effort seeking to use this U.S. city as a gateway to promote shared prosperity and knowledge exchange.
Despite more than 300,000 collaborations and partnerships forged between U.S. and South African universities over the last decade, research between U.S. and South African HBIs remains under 1% of total output compared to much higher PWI collaborations (Heleta, Jithoo, Brown-Grier, n.d.). A key component of the HBIx initiative directly addresses this gap by fostering research collaborations and partnerships. Through a student-faculty exchange, participants will develop community-based research projects using digital humanities and storytelling. HBIx will focus on key areas such as the humanities, climate and environmental justice, digital communications, art, STEM, and agriculture. Students majoring in these fields are eligible to participate, with the goal of fostering lasting research partnerships between students and faculty.
Key HBIx Program Highlights:
Student and Faculty Exchange Programs: Participants from HBIs will engage in reciprocal study abroad and teaching exchanges, immersing themselves in the culture, history, and academic life of their host institutions.
Collaborative Research Initiatives: Teams of faculty and students will engage in joint research projects using digital humanities to address issues in areas such as STEAM, education, and climate/environmental justice.
Community Engagement and Service Learning: Participants will contribute to community-based research and service-learning projects that directly benefit underserved populations in both countries.
Conference and Professional Development: Program participants will attend the Ralph Bunche Center’s HBCU International Symposium on Study Abroad, where they are encouraged to present their research, share best practices, and explore new areas for collaboration.
About iHBCUx, Inc.:
iHBCUx, Inc. addresses the significant gap in HBCU student participation in federally funded exchange programs. Its mission is to increase HBCU student knowledge, awareness, and participation in these programs through culturally relevant outreach, recruitment, and workshops for students, faculty, and fellowship advisors. Through innovative programs and partnerships, iHBCUx seeks to address global issues affecting Black communities while providing opportunities for academic growth, cultural exchange, and leadership development. For more information, visit www.ihbcux.com or contact Ashleigh Brown-Grier at info@ihbcux.org.
For more information about U.S. Department of State initiatives with HBCUs please visit, Department of State Exchange Program Connects African Universities with HBCUs and Fulbright Institutional Leaders.
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Ashleigh Brown-Grier, Ph.D.
Founder/CEO
1-202-664-4055
info@ihbcux.org
Fulbright Alum and Gilman Alums Address HBCU Student Participation in International Exchange
Washington, D.C. – Fulbright alumna Ashleigh Brown-Grier and Gilman alumna Stephanie Tilley received a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund HBCU student participation in government-sponsored international exchange programs. In September 2020, the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs invited U.S. citizen alumni of all U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, the Gilman Scholarship, and Cultural and Sports Envoys, to apply for small grants of up to $10,000 as part of the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund Rapid Response funding opportunity. Exchange alumni from across the United States submitted proposals for public service projects that addressed media literacy education themes, building community resilience, and fostering alumni network development.
Ashleigh Brown-Grier is pursuing a Ph.D. at Howard University in the Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies program. Her research focus is internationalization at Historically Black Colleges and Universities—specifically international student support. She is the founder and CEO of iHBCUx. Ashleigh was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Malaysia during the 2016-2017 grant year.
Stephanie Tilley is Ph.D. student in the Educational Leadership program with a focus in Higher Education and a Program Coordinator in The Office of International Programs at Prairie View A&M University. She is the Assistant Director of iHBCUx. Stephanie was a fall 2013 Gilman Scholar to Costa Rica.
The International HBCU Xchange pilot (iHBCUx) program will collaborate with the Fulbright, Boren Critical Language Scholarship, Gilman programs, and alumni from the respective exchange programs to conduct targeted outreach and recruitment through culturally relevant presentations, events, and mentoring for HBCU students. iHBCUx will provide support to study abroad advisors at HBCUs. A culminating event will include an iHBCUx 101 Summit open to all HBCUs. The summit will provide sessions for the four international exchange programs and alumni led panels about their experiences abroad. Additionally, the summit will have virtual event booths for Black-owned study abroad programs for students.
Since the close of the competition in November, the U.S. Department of State has funded 38 projects that address issues faced by communities across the United States and around the world with international partners in countries such as Mongolia, Nepal, North Macedonia, and the Philippines. Exchange alumni are contributing to their communities in meaningful ways by sharing media literacy best practices that help mitigate the spread of disinformation, increasing access to virtual and at-home education for youth and their families, protecting the environment, bringing exchange alumni together to create stronger networks, and responding to other community needs. Winners this year include projects supporting mental health training in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, media literacy education in China, and food literacy in Indiana.
“Congratulations to our exchange alumni who have received awards from the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund to lead public service projects in their communities,” said Matthew Lussenhop, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “These alumni will serve diverse communities in the United States and abroad through programs adapted to the realities of COVID-19. We are proud of these citizen diplomats.”
The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented in partnership with the Partners of the Americas. For more information visit https://alumni.state.gov. For questions on ECA exchange programs, contact ECA-Press@state.gov.
For Media Inquiries please contact:
Rikeshia Davidson
Communications Director
ihbcux@gmail.com
(563)-742-0365