Professor Tracy Riley appointed to Fulbright New Zealand Board

Fulbright facilitates international education exchanges between New Zealand and the United States of America for academics and students to study, research, teach or present their work.

Professor Riley has been selected to represent her birth country, the United States, on the New Zealand Board. This appointment recognises Professor Riley’s leadership in scholarships and scholar development, both at Massey and externally.

“It is such an honour to have been appointed to the Fulbright Board, a prestigious programme of cultural exchange for New Zealand and American students and academics. This appointment brings together my passions for developing and celebrating the gifts and talents of individuals with university teaching and research,” Professor Riley says.

In her role as Dean, Professor Riley is responsible for doctoral education, scholarships and scholar development, and ethics. She currently serves on the Steering Group for New Zealand Universities Women in Leadership and the Scholarships Committee for Universities New Zealand. She is 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.

In 2020, Professor Riley initiated the Scholars Massey programme, funded by the Massey University Foundation, which supports student applications for scholarship programmes like Fulbright. Since the Scholars Massey programme began six postgraduate students and several staff have received Fulbright awards.

Professor Riley joins Massey colleague Professor Rangi Mātāmua, Tūhoe, from Te Pūtahi-a-Toi School of Māori Knowledge on the Fulbright New Zealand Board.

Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes, a Fulbright alumni, says it is exceptional to have two representatives from Massey involved in the governance of this programme.

“We are delighted that Professor Riley has been appointed to join Professor Mātāmua on the Board of Fulbright New Zealand. This reflects Professor Riley’s outstanding leadership and expertise in the field of education and the significant contributions she is making to advancing international research, scholarship and education.”

Fulbright New Zealand is governed by a Board of Directors with representatives from government and private sectors of New Zealand and the United States of America. The U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission to New Zealand David Gehrenbeck and the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon. Winston Peters serve as honorary chairpersons.

The Fulbright programme of international educational exchange was an initiative of American Senator J. William Fulbright from Arkansas, who in the aftermath of World War II believed that mutual understanding between different countries and cultures was crucial to ensure a peaceful future for the world.