The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs leads Department efforts to expand and strengthen the relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other countries.
The grant program aims to celebrate the significant anniversaries of the Fulbright Program by emphasizing its impact on the U.S.-Japan relationship through the establishment of a Fulbright Alumni Award program. Targeting priority areas such as the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, Environment and Sustainability, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and Innovation, the program seeks to showcase Fulbright alumni's contributions, promoting the Fulbright program, increasing the diversity and number of Japanese applicants, and boosting interest among the Japanese public. Highlighting these Fulbright "Heroes" in a short video for recruitment purposes, the initiative underscores the role of the Fulbright program in advancing mission priorities in Japan. Key objectives include reflecting on the achievements of Fulbright alumni in Japan, fostering future U.S. government flagship people-to-people exchanges, collecting and publicizing information on alumni contributions, and engaging Japanese audiences to deepen understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives through activities that include an American element and take place in Japan.