Professors beyond borders — that’s a good phrase to describe the intrepid instructors of Tennessee Tech University whose teaching and research have taken them to various locations around the globe, from Africa and Asia to the Middle East and Europe.

Thanks to America’s flagship international education exchange program, more than 14 Fulbright Scholar grants have been awarded over the past 20 years that have allowed TTU professors to take their skills to other countries.

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program — sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs — operates in more than 150 countries worldwide and has helped a total of more than 105,000 Americans to study, teach and perform research abroad.

“The Fulbright Program provides participants with opportunities to observe each others’ political, economic, educational and cultural institutions, to exchange ideas and to embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants,” said Nancy Santos Gainer, director of external relations for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

And every TTU professor who has ever been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant would probably also say that each assignment is an adventure in itself. In fact, political revolution, natural disasters, romance and cutting-edge technology are just some of the situations that TTU professors on Fulbright assignments have encountered.

NEXT: Revolution and Natural Disaster>>