Professor Tracy Riley.
Dean of Postgraduate Research at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, Professor Tracy Riley, has been a member of the Fulbright New Zealand Board and was elected as Chair by her fellow board members. She succeeds outgoing Chair Alastair Bisley, whose term has concluded.
Fulbright New Zealand is governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives from the Aotearoa New Zealand and United States (US) governments, alongside members appointed by the organisation's honorary chairpersons: New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs and the US Ambassador to New Zealand. The Board also elects its Deputy Chair and Treasurer.
As Chair, Professor Riley will provide leadership to the Board and oversee its meetings, helping guide the organisation's strategic direction.
She says she’s honoured to have been elected to the role.
“I see this role as a fantastic opportunity to support the vision of Senator Fulbright to help others see the world through different eyes. In a time when understanding across cultures and communities is more important than ever, that idea continues to resonate deeply with me. As Chair, I am honoured to support an organisation that brings people together through learning, research and exchange. Fulbright changes lives, but it also strengthens relationships between nations and communities, helping us build a more informed, inclusive and collaborative future together.”
Founded in 1948 through a bilateral treaty between the governments of New Zealand and the US, Fulbright New Zealand is an independent organisation dedicated to fostering educational and cultural exchange between the two countries. It forms part of the global Fulbright Programme, established by United States Senator J. William Fulbright following World War II to promote mutual understanding through international educational exchange. Today, the programme operates in more than 160 countries and is recognised as one of the world's most significant scholarly exchange initiatives.
Fulbright New Zealand Executive Director Penelope Borland warmly welcomes Professor Riley's appointment.
"Tracy's commitment to educational excellence, research and international collaboration aligns strongly with Fulbright's mission. Her experience and strategic leadership in the tertiary sector will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our ties with graduate schools and educational and cultural connections between Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States.”
In her role as Dean of Postgraduate Research at Massey, Professor Riley leads the university's doctoral education portfolio, including doctoral programmes, scholarships, researcher development and ethics.
She says this year's recipients reflect Massey’s concerted effort over the past five years to encourage and support staff and students to apply for Fulbright opportunities.
The 2026 Massey connections include outgoing award recipients Professor Riz Firestone and 2024 PhD graduate Dr Luke Rowe, as well as incoming US scholars Professor Xin Feng and Sahana Armani, highlighting the university's growing engagement with the prestigious international exchange programme.
Beyond Massey, Professor Riley serves on the steering group for New Zealand Universities Women in Leadership and the scholarships committee for Universities New Zealand. She is also an active member of the New Zealand Deans and Directors of Graduate Schools, the Australian Council of Graduate Research and the World Council for Gifted and Talented Education.
Applications are currently open for the Fulbright New Zealand Scholar Award. Find out more information on the Fulbright website.
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