Having led the US-UK Fulbright Commission through three US political administrations, four UK administrations, a global pandemic and over 1500 exchanges between the UK and the US, Executive Director Maria Balinska, will be leaving the Commission at the end of October. On November 1 Rowena Boddington, our current Director of Advising, will be stepping up as Interim Executive Director.
Appointed in 2019, Maria Balinska built on the legacy of her predecessors to position the Commission strategically for the 2020s with a mission championing the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of civic engagement and the development compassionate leaders and a vision of a world without obstacles to learning, understanding and collaboration. She leaves with a significant increase in the number of fellowships paying all costs for UK postgraduate students in the US, thus delivering on the key strategic goal of making international exchange opportunities affordable and attractive to talented individuals, whatever their background or financial circumstance.
During her six years the organisation has expanded its activities with initiatives such as the Fulbright Champions’ network designed to promote Fulbright opportunities across the higher education sector in the UK and the Global Challenges Teaching Awards, a programme that promotes excellence and innovation in virtual exchange between university classrooms in the US and UK. Collaboration has been at the heart of her tenure, introducing a series of new institutions to the Commission’s existing community of partners – from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Wallitt Foundation, the Rita Allen Foundation and the National Black Police Association to American University, Rutgers University-Newark, the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, North Carolina Central University and Ulster University.
Sir David Eastwood, the Commission’s current chair, said: ‘The Commission is deeply indebted to Maria for her commitment, her championing of opportunity, and her determination to hold the Commission true to its core values in often challenging times. She will leave a rich legacy of achievement, and the Commission and the wider Fulbright family send their deep thanks and very best wishes for the coming years as she explores new horizons’.
Taking over from the 1st November 2025, Rowena Boddington has worked as Director of Advising since 2017. Over the last 8 years, she has led the State Department’s EducationUSA work in the UK, helping thousands navigate the US admissions process at both undergraduate and graduate level, and US HEIs recruit in the UK. In this capacity, Rowena has overseen Europe's largest US college fair, USA College Day. Rowena has also been the programme director for the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme, a partnership with UK social mobility charity the Sutton Trust. During her tenure the programme has helped more than 430 low-income, first-generation UK students get places and financial aid to study for an undergraduate degree at US universities, supporting thousands more to explore opportunities to study abroad. Throughout her time at Fulbright, Rowena has served on the senior staff team for the Commission. Studying in the US as a student was life-changing for Rowena, and she continues to be inspired to help others have similarly transformational experiences through educational exchange.
In welcoming Rowena to her new role Sir David Eastwood said, ‘I and the Commission as a whole are hugely appreciative of Rowena’s willingness to step into the Interim Executive Director’s role and responsibilities. Her deep experience, commitment to Fulbright, open, transparent, and collegial style will stand her in good stead as she leads the Commission through an important period. I am delighted to be working with her’.